Royal Decree No. 2 of 1999 defining the inviolable areas alongside oil and gas pipelines. Country/Territory Oman Document type Legislation Date 1999 Source FAO, FAOLEX Original source Official Gazette No. 639, 3 January 1999. Subject Land & soil Keyword Land-use planning Right of use Geographical area Asia, Indian Ocean, Middle East, Near East and North Africa, Western Asia Entry into force notes This Royal Decree enters into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. Abstract This Royal Decree is composed of 5 articles. Existing and future pipelines are to be surrounded by an inviolable buffer zone 20 metres wide measured from the centre of the pipe. The Ministry of Oil and Gas is to define these inviolable rights of way in coordination with the Supreme Council for Town planning (art. 1). Public service projects are to respect these rights of way. No activities are permitted within these rights of way, be they on the ground, above ground or underground. Exceptions to this are when pipelines cross roads, bridges, tunnels, walls, water canals, irrigation channels (aflaj), electric lines, communication lines, and water distribution pipes so long as there is prior approval from the Ministry of Oil and Gas (art. 3). Any buildings found within the pipeline rights of way after the Decree enters into force will be removed at the transgressor’s expense (art. 4). Full text Arabic