Glossary

Ownership & Rights

35 terms in this category

Adverse Possession

Acquiring ownership by long-term possession without owner's objection, conditions difficult and varying by local law.

Awqaf Authority

Saudi entity responsible for managing public endowments, overseeing investment of endowed properties for charitable work.

Bare Ownership

Property ownership without usufruct right, owner retains real right but another benefits, combining with usufruct later.

Boundary Dispute

Dispute between owners over land boundaries, resolved by official maps and surveying, may require judicial intervention.

Clear Title

Title deed without any pledges, liens, or disputes, ideal for sale, guaranteeing buyer full ownership without restrictions.

Co-Ownership

Property ownership by more than one person, each owner has defined share, requiring all owners' consent for property disposition.

Easement

Right on property for benefit of another property like right of way or water access, established by contract and registered, follows property even when sold.

Eminent Domain

State's right to seize private properties for public benefit like road construction, with fair value compensation to owner.

Encroachment

Construction or activity on neighbor's land without permission, property rights violation, requiring removal legally with compensation if damage exists.

Encumbrance

Third-party rights on property limiting disposition, includes pledges, liens, and agreements, must be disclosed before sale.

Foreign Ownership

Right of foreigners to own properties in Saudi Arabia, greatly evolved with Vision 2030, subject to special conditions and licenses.

Freehold

Full permanent property ownership, highest type of ownership, allowing complete disposition, most common in Saudi Arabia for citizens.

Gift Deed

Transferring property ownership to person without compensation, authenticated at Notary, common among family members, subject to ownership transfer procedures.

Inheritance

Property ownership transfer to heirs after owner's death, per Sharia in Saudi Arabia, requiring heir inventory and registration.

Inheritance Share

Each heir's share of property per Sharia, male equal to two females, varying by relationship degree and heirs.

Joint Tenancy

Co-ownership with equal shares, upon owner's death, share transfers to remaining owners, common between spouses.

Land Survey

Accurately determining land boundaries with specialized equipment, basis of title deeds, determining actual area and resolving boundary disputes.

Leasehold

Ownership limited to long period like 99 years, common in some countries like UAE, uncommon in Saudi Arabia.

Lien

Right on property to guarantee debt, remains with property until payment, limiting disposition freedom, registered in real estate registry.

Life Estate

Right to use property for beneficiary's life, ending at death with full bare ownership returning to owner, used in inheritance planning.

Neighboring Rights

Rights and duties of neighboring owners, including non-harm and regulation of separations and views, organized by municipal regulations.

Ownership Transfer

Transferring property ownership from one person to another by sale, gift, or inheritance, registered at Notary, requiring fees and procedures.

Property Ownership

Full right to dispose of property proven by title deed, allowing sale, rental, endowment, and waiver, highest type of real rights.

Property Sale

Transferring ownership for price, requiring authenticated sale contract and 5% real estate transaction tax, demanding specific legal procedures.

Real Estate Endowment

Converting property to endowment by official decree, benefiting specified beneficiaries or charitable work, managed by cautious investment.

Real Estate Pledge

Giving property as loan guarantee, pledger retains ownership but pledgee has right to execute upon non-payment, officially registered.

Real Estate Registry

Official system for registering property ownership and rights, ensuring transparency and rights protection, managed by Real Estate Security Authority in Saudi Arabia.

Real Estate Succession

Procedures for transferring property ownership to heirs, including heir inventory and division, done in Sharia courts and Notaries.

Right of Way

Right to pass through another property to reach own, form of easement, registered in property deed, ensuring access to surrounded properties.

Strata Title

Apartment ownership in building with share in common areas, common system in apartments, with special deeds and regulations.

Tenancy in Common

Co-ownership with possibly different shares, each owner has right to dispose of share by sale or inheritance independently.

Title Insurance

Insurance protecting buyer from hidden ownership issues like prior disputes, common in Western countries, rare in Saudi Arabia.

Title Search

Examining property record to verify ownership integrity and absence of pledges or disputes, essential step before any real estate transaction.

Usufruct

Right to use and benefit from property without ownership, limited by duration, common in endowments and special agreements, real right.

Waqf (Endowment)

Endowing property forever for charitable works, not sold or inherited, managed by Awqaf Authority, common in Saudi Arabia for mosques and schools.