Ficus and Conocarpus Tree Damage in Saudi Arabia 2025: Destructive Roots, Legal Liability, Compensation, and Official Ban Decisions

Introduction: Beautiful Trees with a Destructive Face

In many Saudi residential neighborhoods, Ficus and Conocarpus trees spread with their dense green leaves and generous shade, adding an appealing aesthetic to homes and streets. But behind this apparent beauty lies a serious problem that thousands of residents discovered too late: the roots of these trees are capable of catastrophically destroying home infrastructure.

This article will reveal the complete scientific and legal facts about these trees, how you can protect your property, what your rights are if you're damaged by your neighbor's tree, and how government agencies are dealing with this growing problem.

First: The Aggressive Biology of Ficus and Conocarpus Roots

To understand the scale of the problem, we must first understand why these specific trees are more dangerous than others to infrastructure.

The Phenomenon of Hydrotropism

Ficus and Conocarpus roots are characterized by a biological phenomenon known as hydrotropism, which is the ability of roots to sense moisture from a distance and move toward it forcefully. The roots can sense the presence of water in the soil and grow in its direction, even if it's several meters away. In the Saudi desert environment where water is scarce, this ability becomes more aggressive, as roots search with all their strength for any available moisture source.

Mechanical Force of Roots

It's not just growth toward water; the roots of these trees possess enormous mechanical force capable of splitting rocks. These roots contain very fine filaments that can enter through the smallest pores and cracks in concrete or pipe joints. Once inside, they begin growing and swelling within these cracks in what's known as radial growth, widening the cracks and causing catastrophic fractures.

Water Greed

These trees are extremely greedy for water. A single Ficus tree can consume massive amounts of water daily. When not watered regularly, its roots head toward any available underground water source, whether it's a water tank, sewage pipes, or even drinking water network. Some estimates indicate that trees of this type in Saudi Arabia consume millions of cubic meters of water annually.

Second: Types of Damage Caused by These Trees

The damage caused by Ficus and Conocarpus roots is varied and serious, extending to include all components of home infrastructure.

Underground Water Tank Destruction

This is one of the most dangerous types of damage. Roots penetrate concrete tank walls through the finest cracks or joints, then grow inside them randomly and densely. The result? Tank wall cracking and water leakage, and in worst cases, drinking water contamination with sewage or contaminated soil. Imagine your family drinking contaminated water for months without knowing the cause is your neighbor's tree roots!

Sewage Network Blockage

Roots target sewage pipes because they're a rich source of moisture. They enter through pipe joints or any small crack, then grow densely inside until they completely block the pipe. The result is sewage overflow inside the home or yard, foul odors, and expensive repair costs that sometimes require completely breaking up floors to reach damaged pipes.

Foundation and Wall Cracking

When roots extend under building foundations, their growth and swelling creates enormous pressure on the concrete, leading to cracks in walls and foundations. In advanced cases, the entire building structure may be affected and become unsafe for habitation.

Sidewalk and Tile Breaking

One of the most visible damages is the movement and uprooting of sidewalk and home tiles. Roots close to the surface lift tiles and cause floor deformations, exposing pedestrians to tripping and ruining the property's aesthetic appearance.

Electricity and Communication Network Damage

Damage isn't limited to water and sewage pipes but extends to include underground electricity and communication installations. Roots can damage cables and cause repeated failures.

Third: Legal Liability Under Saudi Law

Saudi judiciary has moved beyond considering planting as an absolute right of the owner. Today, if your tree causes damage to your neighbor, you are legally and financially responsible.

Civil Transactions Law and Tort Liability

The Saudi Civil Transactions Law issued in 2023 regulated tort liability clearly. Article 120 states that every error that causes damage to others obligates the one who committed it to compensation. This means that if you plant a Ficus or Conocarpus tree near your neighbor's wall, and its roots cause damage to their property, you are obligated to compensate them.

The Rule of "Harm Must Be Removed"

One of the established jurisprudential rules in Islamic law that the Saudi system has adopted is the rule of "no harm and no reciprocal harm." This rule obligates the one who caused harm to remove it and compensate for resulting losses.

Abuse of Rights

Article 29 of the Civil Transactions Law states that abuse of rights is not permitted, and use of a right is considered abusive if the benefit from its use is completely disproportionate to the harm it causes to others. Planting a tree for decoration then ignoring its serious damage to neighbor's property constitutes abuse of property rights.

Elements of Compensation Claim

For a compensation claim to succeed, three basic elements must be present. The first element is fault, represented by planting a tree with harmful roots near others' property or neglecting to remove it despite knowing its damage. The second element is harm, including actual material damage such as repair costs for tanks, pipes, and floors. The third element is causal relationship, proving that the tree roots are the direct cause of the damage.

Fourth: How to File a Compensation Claim Against a Neighbor

If your property is damaged by your neighbor's tree roots, here are the correct legal steps to claim your rights.

Step One: Document the Damage

Before any action, document the damage with photos and video. Photograph the roots penetrating the tank or pipes, and photograph cracks and damage. This documentation will be essential evidence in the lawsuit.

Step Two: Obtain a Technical Report

Hire an accredited engineering office to obtain a technical report proving the causal relationship between tree roots and damage. The report should identify the tree type, root path, nature of damage, and repair cost estimate. This report is the most important element in the lawsuit.

Step Three: Attempt Amicable Settlement

Before resorting to court, try to communicate with your neighbor amicably and show them the technical report. Many disputes are resolved by mutual agreement without the need for courts. Offer them to remove the tree and bear repair costs.

Step Four: File Lawsuit via Najiz

If amicable settlement fails, you can file a civil lawsuit via the Najiz platform. Steps include logging into the Najiz portal via National Single Sign-On, then choosing new lawsuit form, selecting the main classification as Rights, then filling in lawsuit data and attaching documents including technical report, photos, and repair invoices if available.

What You Can Claim

You can claim several elements. First is material damage compensation, which is the cost of repairing tanks, pipes, and floors. Second is loss of benefit such as cost of renting alternative housing during repairs or cost of purchasing alternative water if the tank was contaminated. Third is obligating the neighbor to remove the tree to prevent future recurrence of damage.

Fifth: Government Position and Ban Decisions

Saudi government agencies recognized the danger of these trees and took decisive decisions to limit their damage.

Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs Directives

The Ministry issued directives to stop planting Conocarpus trees, also known as Bazromia, in public places and residential areas. The decision came after it was proven that this plant is invasive and has harmful environmental effects including water consumption and root impact on home and street infrastructure, reaching water and sewage networks and damaging street sidewalks and underground electricity and communication installations.

List of Banned Trees

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture prepared a list of invasive or harmful plant types prohibited in afforestation projects, including Conocarpus, Prosopis, and Oleander. In contrast, the Ministry prepared a list of local plants suitable for afforestation according to climatic conditions of each region.

Municipality Procedures

Municipalities in various regions of the Kingdom began removing Conocarpus trees from public places and replacing them with shade trees suitable for urban environment. Al-Ahsa Municipality for example announced removal of Conocarpus trees within road development projects due to their multiple damages to infrastructure. Makkah Municipality stopped planting these trees and replaced damaged ones with suitable plants according to the plant types guide for afforestation projects in various regions of the Kingdom.

Balady App for Complaints

Citizens can submit complaints about harmful trees through the Balady app belonging to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing. Steps for submitting a complaint include downloading the Balady app from the app store, then logging in via National Single Sign-On, then choosing submit complaint and selecting appropriate classification, then specifying location on map and describing the problem and attaching explanatory photos. Municipalities are obligated to process complaints within 24 hours and inform the complainant of the result.

Sixth: Safe Alternatives to Ficus and Conocarpus Trees

If you want to plant trees in your home or garden, here are safe alternatives that provide shade and beauty without destroying infrastructure.

Sidr Tree (Lote Tree)

A distinctly Saudi local tree, blessed and mentioned in the Holy Quran. Its roots are less aggressive, it tolerates heat and drought, and produces delicious and nutritious fruits. Very suitable for Saudi environment and doesn't cause infrastructure problems.

Neem Tree

An evergreen tree that tolerates harsh conditions, its roots are less spread and aggressive than Ficus and Conocarpus. It has multiple medical and environmental benefits, and is used naturally in pest control.

Indian Almond

Spreads in Jazan region and coastal areas, tolerates salinity and heat. Used as screens, green fences, and windbreaks, and produces edible fruits in summer.

Athel Tree (Tamarisk)

A medium-sized local tree, suitable for desert areas. Its roots are non-aggressive, and it tolerates salinity and severe drought.

Planting Tips

Even with safe trees, it's recommended to leave a distance of at least 3 meters between the tree and any underground facility. Avoid planting above or near sewage lines and tanks. Choose trees with deep tap roots instead of spreading surface roots. Maintain regular watering to reduce root search for alternative water sources.

Seventh: What to Do If You Have a Ficus or Conocarpus Tree

If you discover you have one of these trees in your home, here are the available options.

Immediate Assessment

Assess the tree's location and proximity to infrastructure. If it's less than 3 meters from the tank, sewage, or foundations, the danger is imminent. Check for any signs of cracking in nearby floors or walls.

Root Removal

The best solution is to completely remove the tree from its roots. Just cutting the trunk is not enough, because roots will continue growing and searching for water. Hire tree removal specialists to ensure complete root extraction.

Method to Stop Root Growth

If immediate removal is not possible, chemical methods can be used to kill the tree and its roots. Some specialized herbicides are injected into the trunk or soil to gradually stop root growth. Consult an agricultural engineer before using any chemicals.

Periodic Infrastructure Inspection

Even after removing the tree, periodically inspect tanks and pipes to ensure there's no previously undiscovered damage. Damage may appear years after the tree was planted.

Eighth: Real Stories and Lessons Learned

To understand the real scale of the problem, here are some real scenarios that recur daily in the Kingdom.

Scenario One: Water Tank Contamination

A family lived in their new home and planted a Ficus tree in the backyard for shade and beauty. After five years, family members began suffering from recurring health problems. After inspecting the water tank, they discovered that Ficus roots had penetrated the tank wall and caused sewage leakage into it. Repair costs exceeded 50,000 riyals, not counting health costs.

Scenario Two: Neighbor Dispute

A property owner discovered that Conocarpus tree roots from his neighbor's garden extended underground and penetrated the sewage pipes in his home. After failed amicable attempts, he filed a lawsuit supported by an engineering report. The court ruled in his favor, obligating the neighbor to remove the tree and compensate him for repair costs of 35,000 riyals.

Scenario Three: School Suffering from Repeated Blockage

In Kuwait, the General Authority for Environment noted that a single school contained more than 200 Conocarpus trees that caused repeated sewage blockage. A decision was made to remove them and replace them with safe trees. The same problem recurs in many Saudi schools and facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have the right to claim compensation from my neighbor if I'm damaged by their tree?

Yes, according to the Saudi Civil Transactions Law, every error that causes damage to others obligates the one who committed it to compensation. If the technical report proves that the neighbor's tree roots are the cause of damage, you are entitled to compensation.

Is planting Conocarpus legally banned in Saudi Arabia?

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs issued directives to stop planting Conocarpus in government projects and public places. As for private properties, there's no explicit ban, but the owner bears legal responsibility for any damage the tree causes to others.

How do I file a complaint about a harmful tree on the street or public facility?

Through the Balady app, you can submit a complaint with location specification and attached photos. The municipality will handle processing within 24 hours.

What's the cost of removing a Ficus or Conocarpus tree from the roots?

Cost varies depending on tree size and age, but usually ranges between 1,000 to 5,000 riyals. The cost is worthwhile compared to potential damages that could reach tens of thousands.

Can I plant Ficus in a large pot instead of the ground?

Yes, planting Ficus in pots or isolated planters limits root spread. But the planter must be large enough and completely isolated from soil.

What's the safe distance to plant any tree away from infrastructure?

It's recommended to leave a distance of at least 3 meters for small trees, and 5 meters for large trees. But with Ficus and Conocarpus, even these distances may not be sufficient.

Conclusion

Ficus and Conocarpus trees may look beautiful and generously shady, but they carry ticking time bombs in their roots capable of destroying your home's infrastructure. Awareness of the danger of these trees has become a necessity for every property owner in Saudi Arabia. If you're thinking of planting, choose safe alternatives like Sidr, Neem, and Indian Almond. And if you're damaged by your neighbor's tree, the law guarantees you full compensation for material damages and loss of benefit.

Always remember: prevention is better than cure, and the cost of removing a harmful tree today is much less than the cost of repairing what it will destroy tomorrow.