Saudi Gazette report DAMMAM — The scenario has become all too common: A citizen is not given permission to build a house on his own land because another citizen has also claimed ownership. Both possess valid land deeds. According to a report in Al-Riyadh newspaper, owners often sell the same piece of land to more than one buyer in a practice that is highly deceptive and illegal. When buyers neglect to update the land deed in court records, owners can resell the land to unsuspecting buyers. While courts often successfully identify offenders and force them to reimburse buyers, the practice continues. While faulting employees at notary offices for neglecting to carry out their duties, realtor Abdullah Al-Damegh said buyers should follow the necessary procedures to make sure that court records are updated and show them as the new owners. He also said local municipalities also share the blame when they grant the same land to more than one person. “When a person wishes to build on his land and discovers that someone else has already done so, he is asked by the municipality to search for alternate land. But citizens cannot search for land because many are unfamiliar with the real estate sector or the areas that are designated for grants,” he said. Yahya Al-Rashid, a lawyer and expert in land dispute cases, said one of the most important factors investors take into consideration is whether or not a potential investment is safe and valid. He urged authorities to do more to crack down on real estate fraud, something which would increase the confidence of investors. “Court rulings in such cases usually favor those who have updated their land deeds while the other buyers are asked to claim their money from the seller. Courts usually ask the claimant to bring the buyer to court, even though it is not the claimant's responsibility. The judicial system should deal with such problems and ensure transparency and fairness.”
