The survey decision is the first document the office selects when starting a building permit on Balady, and the setbacks, buildable area and whole design are built on it. So any error in it carries through to everything after: a design on wrong boundaries, a stalled permit, and sometimes an error discovered after excavation has started. Most of these errors can be avoided with a simple review before design. This guide sets out the most common survey report errors, the effect of each, how to fix them, and how to avoid them from the start.
1. The Wrong Purpose
The decision is issued for a specific purpose. A decision for a purpose other than the one you need may not be accepted by the next service. Solution: set the purpose precisely when requesting. Read: Survey, survey decision and survey report.
2. Not Matching the Deed
The area or lengths differ from the deed. Solution: resolve the difference through the regulatory route. Read: Deed area differs from reality and Amending deed boundaries.
3. Boundary and Coordinate Errors
Inaccurate boundaries with a neighbour or street, or coordinates placing the property in the wrong location. Read: Your property appears in the wrong location on the map.
4. Expiry
The survey decision is valid for three years according to Balady, and the building permit requires a valid decision.
5. A Deed That Is Not Updated
The building permit requires an updated electronic deed. Read: Updating a paper deed to electronic.
Table: The Error, Its Effect and Its Fix
| Error | When discovered | Effect | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrong purpose | When applying for the service | Rejection or the decision not appearing | A new decision for the correct purpose |
| Differs from the deed | At audit or the municipality | A stalled permit | Correcting the deed or the decision |
| Inaccurate boundaries | During construction or with the neighbour | A dispute or design change | Re-surveying |
| Expired | When applying | The request is not accepted | A new decision |
| Paper deed | When applying | The service cannot start | Converting to electronic |
How to Avoid These Errors
- An accurate office classified for surveying.
- Reviewing the decision before design starts.
- Matching the decision against the deed and the ground.
- A survey before purchase for new plots. Read: Land survey before purchase.
Also read: Why are building permits rejected?.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can design start before the survey decision?
It is better to start after it, as it sets the boundaries and area the design is based on.
Who corrects the error?
The engineering office, depending on the type of error, and a new decision may be needed.
Does the office bear the cost of correction?
If the error is in the survey itself the office usually fixes it; if it comes from the deed or map, it needs a procedure with the competent authority.
Does the error affect the neighbour?
It may if it concerns shared boundaries, so verifying boundaries on the ground is advisable.
How long does correction take?
It depends on the error; a new decision is relatively quick, while amending the deed or map takes longer.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office classified for surveying that issues survey decisions accurately and for the correct purpose, matches them against the deed and the ground before design, and fixes existing errors. See our survey report service, or contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.