Permits for the Saudi embassy in Copenhagen appear to be in a mess.

No permits
The embassy is temporarily housed in premises in Gentofte north of Copenhagen, but has no permission to operate an embassy and consulate from the address, nor has it ever applied for permission.

Chief Legal Adviser Mette Mie Nielsen at Gentofte Council confirms that the embassy does not have permission to run an embassy from the premises and says that the local authority will strongly make this clear in communication with the embassy.

Enforcement notice
Gentofte Mayor Hans Toft is also involved in the issue: “First we will issue an enforcement notice to the embassy ordering it to cease embassy operations in the building. If the order is not followed, we will submit a report to the police,” Hans Toft told TV2/Lorry.

In order for the Saudi embassy to become lawful, it needs to ask the local authorities for permission to close down the housing part of the address and then apply for permission to establish an embassy in the building. The latter, however, is not so simple as the district plan for the area does not permit any more embassies in the district.

Head of Protocol Jette Nordam at the Danish Foreign Ministry says the Ministry will enter into dialogue with the embassy on the issue.

Other problems
The permit issue comes in the wake of two other issues. At its permanent address, the embassy has fallen out with neighbours due to illegal buildings that have taken away their view of the sea. Since then, the Saudi representation has become unpopular with its current neighbour who has complained about the embassy’s CCTV, which he alleges monitors his terrace and living room.

The embassy is in temporary premises because it is rebuilding its permanent address, but there are legal problems here, too. The district plan says that only 25% of the plot may be built up, but with the rebuilding, the plot ratio will be 40%.

The Saudi embassy has declined to comment on the issue.