The article is devoted to the analysis of historical features of formation of land tenure systems in the Maghreb. It is shown that in the historical aspect, the land tenure system in the Maghreb has undergone changes. They depended on the kind of civilization existing in these countries, and were influenced by religious factors and colonial rule. The author considers the legal aspects of land tenure issues in the Democratic Republic of Algeria, Libya, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Republic of Tunisia, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The article shows that the pre-colonial Algeria was largely peasant society, the land formed the basis of property relations. According to legal and customary rights the tenure were divided into six different categories: mulk, arsh or sabega, habus, beylik orazel, mokhzen and muwat. The legal system of Libya has been formed under the influence of Ottoman law, French, Italian civil law, the Egyptian Civil Code and, in addition, the rules of Islamic law and customary law are used. During the period of Ottoman rule in Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzani - historic regions of Libya, there were various types of land tenure. There existed five main types of land possession in Morroco. The distribution of land in Morocco after independence depended mainly on political events in the country Tunisia was the first country in the Maghreb, which implemented Western-style reforms, because it was subjected to foreign influences