The House of Representatives, in a legislative session on Tuesday, approved the draft amended Real Estate Ownership Law for 2026 following four consecutive sessions of extensive debate and parliamentary amendments addressing property rights, expropriation, compensation, joint ownership removal, financial leasing, and the definition of a road. The draft was passed and referred to the Senate to complete its constitutional process. The passage occurred during a session chaired by Speaker of the House Mazen Al-Qadi, with First Deputy Speaker Khamees Atieh chairing a portion, in the presence of Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and members of the cabinet. The legislation represents one of the key economic bills passed during the extraordinary session due to its direct link to real estate, investment, and finance, providing a comprehensive modernization of real estate procedures—including registration, land parceling, joint ownership removal, expropriation, property dispositions, objections, and compensations, alongside expanding digital services offered by the Department of Lands and Survey. Discussions reflected differing perspectives between the government—which emphasized that the bill aims to expedite property procedures and improve the investment environment—and several MPs who called for reinforcing constitutional guarantees protecting private property without diminishing the right to litigation. The draft law aims to develop the investment environment in the real estate market by enabling the Department of Lands and Survey to prepare industry studies and indicators, enhance transparency, digitize services, and permit off-plan sales and parceling prior to construction. It also introduces allocation certificates recognized by banks to facilitate financing and investment. Additionally, the bill addresses joint ownership removal by streamlining procedures, resolving conflicts with special legislation, and replacing the requirement for unanimous consent with a three-quarters majority vote of property owners for division, while retaining legal safeguards for the remaining partners. One of the most debated provisions was the definition of a 'road.' Arguments continued regarding the inclusion of railways within the definition before the House settled the matter by approving the Legal Committee's formula—which encompasses streets, pathways, bridges, stairs, and railways, along with road rights-of-way, appurtenances, and associated facilities. Several MPs argued that land expropriation for railway projects differs in legal and financial impacts from public roads, warning of its effects on property owners' rights and compensation mechanisms. Conversely, the government and the Legal Committee maintained that unifying the definition aligns with future infrastructure project requirements. Provisions on joint ownership removal also prompted extensive debate, with MPs insisting on preserving the jurisdiction of regular courts in real rights disputes, stressing that administrative streamlining must not compromise constitutionally guaranteed judicial safeguards. Regarding financial leasing, MPs called for clearer regulations on exceptions permitting property retention for this purpose to prevent overly broad applications or varied interpretations in the future. The compensation mechanism for expropriation was a central point of debate, with MPs demanding that compensation reflect true market value based on location, zoning, usage, and prevailing prices, rather than fixed percentages that might not ensure fairness in all cases. During the final session, the House approved a key amendment raising the upper limit for administrative compensation that an expropriating entity can negotiate with property owners from 10% to a maximum of 20%. MPs clarified that the amendment does not imply an automatic 20% increase, but rather gives the administration flexibility to reach consensual settlements with property owners up to that ceiling, helping minimize litigation and expedite public utility projects. Speakers noted that the amendment aligns more closely with the constitutional principle of fair compensation given variations in market value based on location and zoning. The House also approved an amendment adding daily newspapers to the legally required publication methods alongside electronic means, aiming to ensure notices reach all concerned parties, enhance transparency, and reduce disputes arising from lack of notice. In contrast, the government emphasized that the bill addresses accumulated imbalances from past years, notably slow joint ownership removal that halted investment in thousands of shared properties, noting that the amendments aim to accelerate completion while preserving legal rights. For its part, the Legal Committee confirmed that the bill resulted from an extensive legislative review, respecting constitutional provisions while accommodating economic and administrative developments while safeguarding basic property rights. Minister of State for Political and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Mon'em Al-Odat stated that the amendments aim to enhance fairness in expropriation compensation by adopting precise evaluation criteria ensuring citizens receive just compensation. He added that courts currently rely on administrative pricing as the standard for fair compensation under established Court of Cassation rulings, confirming the amendment reflects existing judicial practice. Finally, the House rejected a motion submitted by the Al-Ummah parliamentary bloc to reopen debate on Article 2 of the law after a majority vote turned down the request.
The House of Representatives, in a legislative session on Tuesday, approved the draft amended Real Estate Ownership Law for 2026 following four consecutive sessions of extensive debate and parliamentary amendments addressing property rights, expropriation, compensation, joint ownership removal, financial leasing, and the definition of a road. The draft was passed and referred to the Senate to complete its constitutional process. The passage occurred during a session chaired by Speaker of the House Mazen Al-Qadi, with First Deputy Speaker Khamees Atieh chairing a portion, in the presence of Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and members of the cabinet. The legislation represents one of the key economic bills passed during the extraordinary session due to its direct link to real estate, investment, and finance, providing a comprehensive modernization of real estate procedures—including registration, land parceling, joint ownership removal, expropriation, property dispositions, objections, and compensations, alongside expanding digital services offered by the Department of Lands and Survey. Discussions reflected differing perspectives between the government—which emphasized that the bill aims to expedite property procedures and improve the investment environment—and several MPs who called for reinforcing constitutional guarantees protecting private property without diminishing the right to litigation. The draft law aims to develop the investment environment in the real estate market by enabling the Department of Lands and Survey to prepare industry studies and indicators, enhance transparency, digitize services, and permit off-plan sales and parceling prior to construction. It also introduces allocation certificates recognized by banks to facilitate financing and investment. Additionally, the bill addresses joint ownership removal by streamlining procedures, resolving conflicts with special legislation, and replacing the requirement for unanimous consent with a three-quarters majority vote of property owners for division, while retaining legal safeguards for the remaining partners. One of the most debated provisions was the definition of a 'road.' Arguments continued regarding the inclusion of railways within the definition before the House settled the matter by approving the Legal Committee's formula—which encompasses streets, pathways, bridges, stairs, and railways, along with road rights-of-way, appurtenances, and associated facilities. Several MPs argued that land expropriation for railway projects differs in legal and financial impacts from public roads, warning of its effects on property owners' rights and compensation mechanisms. Conversely, the government and the Legal Committee maintained that unifying the definition aligns with future infrastructure project requirements. Provisions on joint ownership removal also prompted extensive debate, with MPs insisting on preserving the jurisdiction of regular courts in real rights disputes, stressing that administrative streamlining must not compromise constitutionally guaranteed judicial safeguards. Regarding financial leasing, MPs called for clearer regulations on exceptions permitting property retention for this purpose to prevent overly broad applications or varied interpretations in the future. The compensation mechanism for expropriation was a central point of debate, with MPs demanding that compensation reflect true market value based on location, zoning, usage, and prevailing prices, rather than fixed percentages that might not ensure fairness in all cases. During the final session, the House approved a key amendment raising the upper limit for administrative compensation that an expropriating entity can negotiate with property owners from 10% to a maximum of 20%. MPs clarified that the amendment does not imply an automatic 20% increase, but rather gives the administration flexibility to reach consensual settlements with property owners up to that ceiling, helping minimize litigation and expedite public utility projects. Speakers noted that the amendment aligns more closely with the constitutional principle of fair compensation given variations in market value based on location and zoning. The House also approved an amendment adding daily newspapers to the legally required publication methods alongside electronic means, aiming to ensure notices reach all concerned parties, enhance transparency, and reduce disputes arising from lack of notice. In contrast, the government emphasized that the bill addresses accumulated imbalances from past years, notably slow joint ownership removal that halted investment in thousands of shared properties, noting that the amendments aim to accelerate completion while preserving legal rights. For its part, the Legal Committee confirmed that the bill resulted from an extensive legislative review, respecting constitutional provisions while accommodating economic and administrative developments while safeguarding basic property rights. Minister of State for Political and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Mon'em Al-Odat stated that the amendments aim to enhance fairness in expropriation compensation by adopting precise evaluation criteria ensuring citizens receive just compensation. He added that courts currently rely on administrative pricing as the standard for fair compensation under established Court of Cassation rulings, confirming the amendment reflects existing judicial practice. Finally, the House rejected a motion submitted by the Al-Ummah parliamentary bloc to reopen debate on Article 2 of the law after a majority vote turned down the request.
The House of Representatives, in a legislative session on Tuesday, approved the draft amended Real Estate Ownership Law for 2026 following four consecutive sessions of extensive debate and parliamentary amendments addressing property rights, expropriation, compensation, joint ownership removal, financial leasing, and the definition of a road. The draft was passed and referred to the Senate to complete its constitutional process. The passage occurred during a session chaired by Speaker of the House Mazen Al-Qadi, with First Deputy Speaker Khamees Atieh chairing a portion, in the presence of Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and members of the cabinet. The legislation represents one of the key economic bills passed during the extraordinary session due to its direct link to real estate, investment, and finance, providing a comprehensive modernization of real estate procedures—including registration, land parceling, joint ownership removal, expropriation, property dispositions, objections, and compensations, alongside expanding digital services offered by the Department of Lands and Survey. Discussions reflected differing perspectives between the government—which emphasized that the bill aims to expedite property procedures and improve the investment environment—and several MPs who called for reinforcing constitutional guarantees protecting private property without diminishing the right to litigation. The draft law aims to develop the investment environment in the real estate market by enabling the Department of Lands and Survey to prepare industry studies and indicators, enhance transparency, digitize services, and permit off-plan sales and parceling prior to construction. It also introduces allocation certificates recognized by banks to facilitate financing and investment. Additionally, the bill addresses joint ownership removal by streamlining procedures, resolving conflicts with special legislation, and replacing the requirement for unanimous consent with a three-quarters majority vote of property owners for division, while retaining legal safeguards for the remaining partners. One of the most debated provisions was the definition of a 'road.' Arguments continued regarding the inclusion of railways within the definition before the House settled the matter by approving the Legal Committee's formula—which encompasses streets, pathways, bridges, stairs, and railways, along with road rights-of-way, appurtenances, and associated facilities. Several MPs argued that land expropriation for railway projects differs in legal and financial impacts from public roads, warning of its effects on property owners' rights and compensation mechanisms. Conversely, the government and the Legal Committee maintained that unifying the definition aligns with future infrastructure project requirements. Provisions on joint ownership removal also prompted extensive debate, with MPs insisting on preserving the jurisdiction of regular courts in real rights disputes, stressing that administrative streamlining must not compromise constitutionally guaranteed judicial safeguards. Regarding financial leasing, MPs called for clearer regulations on exceptions permitting property retention for this purpose to prevent overly broad applications or varied interpretations in the future. The compensation mechanism for expropriation was a central point of debate, with MPs demanding that compensation reflect true market value based on location, zoning, usage, and prevailing prices, rather than fixed percentages that might not ensure fairness in all cases. During the final session, the House approved a key amendment raising the upper limit for administrative compensation that an expropriating entity can negotiate with property owners from 10% to a maximum of 20%. MPs clarified that the amendment does not imply an automatic 20% increase, but rather gives the administration flexibility to reach consensual settlements with property owners up to that ceiling, helping minimize litigation and expedite public utility projects. Speakers noted that the amendment aligns more closely with the constitutional principle of fair compensation given variations in market value based on location and zoning. The House also approved an amendment adding daily newspapers to the legally required publication methods alongside electronic means, aiming to ensure notices reach all concerned parties, enhance transparency, and reduce disputes arising from lack of notice. In contrast, the government emphasized that the bill addresses accumulated imbalances from past years, notably slow joint ownership removal that halted investment in thousands of shared properties, noting that the amendments aim to accelerate completion while preserving legal rights. For its part, the Legal Committee confirmed that the bill resulted from an extensive legislative review, respecting constitutional provisions while accommodating economic and administrative developments while safeguarding basic property rights. Minister of State for Political and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Mon'em Al-Odat stated that the amendments aim to enhance fairness in expropriation compensation by adopting precise evaluation criteria ensuring citizens receive just compensation. He added that courts currently rely on administrative pricing as the standard for fair compensation under established Court of Cassation rulings, confirming the amendment reflects existing judicial practice. Finally, the House rejected a motion submitted by the Al-Ummah parliamentary bloc to reopen debate on Article 2 of the law after a majority vote turned down the request.
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House of Representatives Approves Real Estate Ownership Law and Rejects Reopening Debate on "Railways" Clause
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