{"id":145535,"date":"2026-05-25T00:31:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T21:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/?p=145535"},"modified":"2026-05-25T00:33:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T21:33:24","slug":"procedures-for-identifying-white-lands-and-payment-of-fees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/procedures-for-identifying-white-lands-and-payment-of-fees\/","title":{"rendered":"Procedures for Identifying White Lands and Payment of Fees"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pursuant to Royal Decree No. (M\/244) dated 07\/11\/1446 AH, amending the White Land Fees Law, and the subsequent issuance of the new Implementing Regulations, the legal procedures for identifying lands subject to fees and the modalities of payment have been clarified.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">This article, prepared by Al-Salamah Law Firm, outlines:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The categories of land subject to the fees.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The payment obligations of companies and institutions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The statutory deadlines to be observed in order to avoid penalties.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Cities Subject to White Land Fees<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 5 of the Law stipulates that a city becomes subject to the fees where the following conditions exist:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A gap between supply and demand of developed lands.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inflation in real estate prices.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortage of developed land supply.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Retention of undeveloped lands without development.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The percentage of white lands within the urban boundary.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban development priorities.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Determination of Lands Subject to the Fees<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Minister issues a decision specifying the lands subject to the fees, which must include:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Date of the decision.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The city subject to the fees.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A map of the urban boundaries covered.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The deadline for submitting the required documents and the date of expiry.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The official electronic portal for submissions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The documents to be provided, including proof of ownership and land data.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such announcements are published on the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing website.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Fee Rates and Calculation<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under Article 6, the Minister\u2019s decision defines for each city:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The applicable annual fee percentages.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Land use categories.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The minimum land size and aggregate threshold for white lands.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Conditions for Applicability of the Fees<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 7 sets forth the conditions for subjecting land to the fees:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It must be undeveloped (white) land.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It must be suitable for development or construction.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It must fall within the designated fee zones as announced.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The area, or the aggregate of lands owned by the same owner within the city, must be at least 5,000 sqm.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its use must correspond to that identified in the ministerial decision.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Owners of lands not meeting these conditions may file an objection, lodge a grievance, and pursue litigation before the Administrative Court.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Need help with White Land registration procedures or fee payments?<\/span><\/strong><br \/><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send\/?phone=966533336845&amp;text&amp;type=phone_number&amp;app_absent=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Contact To<\/a><\/span> Our legal team to assist you efficiently and professionally.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Ministry Notification and Invoicing<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 11 of the Regulations requires that fee invoices include, at minimum:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taxpayer\u2019s name and official particulars.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ownership document number.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Land location.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legal reference for the invoice.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Applicable fee percentage.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amount payable.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Payment deadline and method.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consequences of non-payment or delay.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The right to object and the applicable timeframe.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Payment Deadlines<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 13 provides:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Payment must be made within one Gregorian year from the invoice date.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For previous years\u2019 fees, settlement must occur within 90 days from the invoice notification.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extensions for development extend the payment period accordingly.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fees paid may be reclaimed if the land is developed within the statutory (or extended) timeframe.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upon sale of undeveloped land, all outstanding fees must be settled prior to transfer of ownership.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Impact of Surrounding Services on Fee Value<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 4 emphasizes that valuation is influenced not only by land size and location but also by availability of essential services and infrastructure. Each service is assigned a specific weight (score) reflecting its importance and impact on land value.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weights are standardized within each city to ensure consistency and transparency, though subject to periodic review by the Ministry.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1779661548321\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><b>Do new owners of white lands pay the fees?<\/b><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Yes. New owners are liable if the transfer occurs after the ministerial announcement deadline, and must submit the required documents within 30 days of transfer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1779661565729\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><b>What happens if payment is delayed?<\/b><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A late penalty is imposed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1779661580881\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><b>What is the statutory payment period?<\/b><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> One Gregorian year from the invoice issuance date.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/\"><b>Al-Salamah Law Firm<\/b><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offers comprehensive legal advisory services to help clients understand the new White Land Fees framework and its Implementing Regulations. Should you wish to file an objection or pursue legal remedies, our team is ready to provide the necessary support and representation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pursuant to Royal Decree No. (M\/244) dated 07\/11\/1446 AH, amending the White Land Fees Law, and the subsequent issuance of the new Implementing Regulations, the legal procedures for identifying lands subject to fees and the modalities of payment have been clarified. This article, prepared by Al-Salamah Law Firm, outlines: 1. Cities Subject to White Land&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":145530,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-145535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-white-lands"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145535"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":145539,"href":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145535\/revisions\/145539"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/145530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.salamahlaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}