The new executive regulations for the Enforcement Law in Saudi Arabia stipulate a five-day statutory period for vacating properties, commencing from the date of notification or announcement. This period can be extended for exceptional circumstances, up to a maximum of 60 days. Article 38 of the regulations (within the chapter on direct enforcement) clarifies that the property must be handed over to the party requesting enforcement within the specified timeframe. The relevant department is authorized to grant extensions when necessary, taking into account the nature of the property or the circumstances of its occupants.
The regulations stipulate that special precautions must be taken when vacating residential properties to preserve the privacy of the family and facilitate the departure of women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, without interfering with the course of legal proceedings. They also require notifying the relevant authorities immediately upon setting a date for eviction if the property is occupied by structures to which third parties have rights. Furthermore, the new owner assumes the position of the party seeking enforcement, and the occupant assumes the position of the party against whom enforcement is sought, upon transfer of ownership.
Properties occupied by facilities
The article of the Enforcement Law mandates notifying the authority supervising properties occupied by structures to which third parties have rights, of the eviction date as soon as it is determined. It also clarifies that in cases of property transfer, the transferee assumes the role of the enforcement applicant, and the occupant assumes the role of the party against whom enforcement is sought, for the purpose of applying the eviction provisions stipulated in paragraph (2) of Article Thirty-One.
The regulations were issued pursuant to a decision by the Minister of Justice, Dr. Walid bin Mohammed Al-Samaani, and were published in the official gazette, “Umm Al-Qura.” They will come into effect concurrently with the implementation of the system on October 29, 2026. The regulations include 54 articles that regulate provisions for alimony, custody, visitation, and the electronic registration of bonds and promissory notes, in addition to the rules for appeals, which will enhance the efficiency of fulfilling rights.
