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Published on the website on May 2024

Legislative Decree No. (19) 2002 regarding Disposal of State-owned Land owned as Private Property;

We, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the kingdom of Bahrain. 

Having reviewed the Constitution; 

Legislative Decree No. (10) of 1976 regarding Housing; 

Real Estate Registration Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No. (15) of 1979; 

Legislative Decree No. (28) of 1999 regarding the Establishment and Organization of Industrial Zones; 

Civil Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No. (19) of 2001; 

Legislative Decree No. (24) of 2001 regarding Disposal of State-owned Land; 

And the Notification No. (1) of 1360 and Notification No. (46) of 1374; 

Upon the submission of the Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs; 

And after the approval of the Council of Ministers; 

Hereby Decree the following Law: 

Article One 

In applying the provisions of this Law, state-owned land owned as private property shall have the following meaning: 

a-          State-owned land and real estate in accordance with the law. 

b-        State-owned land under real estate ownership documents. 

c-   Lands that no one owns by virtue of real estate ownership documents, final court rulings or by any other documents proving its ownership on any legal basis. 

Article Two 

Subject to the gifts decided by the King, it shall not be permissible to dispose of lands subject to the provisions of this law except by Royal Decree. 

Article Three 

Taking into account the provisions of Article (903) of the Civil Law, it shall not be permissible for any natural or legal person to possess or lay hands in any capacity whatsoever without a basis from the law on the lands subject to the provisions of this law. 

Article Four 

It shall not be permissible for State bodies or legal persons to dispose of the lands to which they have been allocated or to change their use for other than the purpose for which they have been allocated, except with the approval of the King. 

Article Five 

All dispositions made prior to the entry into force of the provisions of this law, and the final court judgements on the lands subject to the provisions of this law, shall remain in force on the same terms and conditions in force at the time of the conclusion of the disposition or the issuance of the judgement. 

No lawsuit shall be heard requesting the confirmation of ownership of any of these lands unless the conditions for ownership by prescription have been completed prior to the entry into force of the provisions of this law. 

Article Six 

Legislative Decree No. (24) of 2001 regarding Disposal of State-owned Land shall be repealed, as well as any text that contradicts the provisions of this Law. 

Article Seven 

The Prime Minister and the Ministers -each within his jurisdiction- shall implement this Law, and it shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. 

King of the Kingdom of Bahrain 

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa 

Prime Minister  

Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa 

Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs 

Abdullah bin Khalid Al Khalifa 

Issued at Riffa Palace 

On: 8 Jumada Al- Awal 1423 A.H. Corresponding: 18 July 2002