Article 1 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 1 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفصل الأول: تطبيق النظام
The Article sets the order of what applies to civil matters: the Law's provisions, then the general rules in the final provisions, then the most suitable rulings of Sharia, without prejudice to special statutory provisions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تُطبق نصوص هذا النظام على جميع المسائل التي تناولتها في لفظها أو في فحواها، فإن لم يوجد نص يمكن تطبيقه طُبقت القواعد الكلية الواردة في الأحكام الختامية، فإن لم توجد قاعدة يمكن تطبيقها طُبقت الأحكام المستمدة من الشريعة الإسلامية الأكثرُ ملاءمة لهذا النظام.
2- لا يخل تطبيق نصوص هذا النظام بالنصوص النظامية الخاصة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 1 explained in plain English
This Article sets the basic rule for applying the Civil Transactions Law: it shows what is referred to in order to know the rule on any civil matter, and in what order.
First: the order of sources under paragraph 1:
- The provisions of the Law: they apply to all matters they deal with, whether in their wording or in their import, that is, in their meaning and content even if the matter is not mentioned by name.
- The general rules set out in the final provisions of the Law: they are referred to if there is no provision that can be applied.
- The rulings of Islamic Sharia: if there is no general rule that can be applied, the rulings derived from Islamic Sharia that are most suitable for this Law are applied.
Moving from one source to the next is conditional on there being nothing that can be applied in the preceding source.
Second: special statutory provisions: paragraph 2 provides that applying this Law does not prejudice special statutory provisions, so what special laws regulate remains subject to their rules.
Article 2 complements these general provisions by providing that the periods and time limits set out in the Law are calculated by the Hijri calendar. To determine the provision that applies to a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in civil cases.
Practical example
A dispute arose between Ahmed and a company in Riyadh over an issue in a civil dealing between them. First, a provision in the Civil Transactions Law dealing with the issue in its wording or import is sought; if there is no provision that can be applied, the general rules in the final provisions are referred to; if no rule applies, the rulings of Islamic Sharia most suitable for the Law are applied. And if the matter is regulated by a special law, applying the Civil Transactions Law does not prejudice that law.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 1 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
What is the reference if there is no provision in the Civil Transactions Law?
The general rules in the final provisions of the Law are applied; if there is no rule that can be applied, the rulings derived from Islamic Sharia that are most suitable for this Law are applied.
Does the Law apply to a matter it does not mention expressly?
Yes. Its provisions apply to the matters they deal with in their wording or in their import, that is, in their meaning even if not mentioned expressly.
Does the Civil Transactions Law override special laws?
No. Paragraph 2 provides that applying the provisions of this Law does not prejudice special statutory provisions.
More articles on Capacity and General Provisions
- Article 2
The Article provides that all periods and time limits in the Civil Transactions Law are calculated by the Hijri calendar.
تحسب المدد والمواعيد الواردة في هذا النظام بالتقويم الهجري.
- Article 3
The Article provides that a person's legal personality begins with complete live birth and ends with death, and that the rights of an unborn child in the womb are determined by statutory provisions.
1- تبدأ شخصية الإنسان بتمام ولادته حيًّا وتنتهي بموته. 2- حقوق الحمل المستكن تحددها النصوص النظامية.
- Article 4
The Article refers the rules on the missing person, the absent person and the person of unknown parentage to the statutory provisions specific to them rather than regulating them in the Civil Transactions Law.
تسري على المفقود والغائب ومجهول النسب النصوص النظامية الخاصة بهم.
- Article 5
The Article refers the rules on persons' names, titles, families, kinship and nationalities to the statutory provisions specific to them.
تسري على أسماء الأشخاص وألقابهم وأسرهم وقراباتهم وجنسياتهم النصوص النظامية الخاصة بها.
- Article 6
The article defines direct kinship as the link between ascendants and descendants, and indirect kinship as the bond between persons who share a common ancestor without one being a descendant of the other.
1- القرابة المباشرة هي الصلة بين الأصول والفروع. 2- القرابة غير المباشرة هي الرابطة بين أشخاصٍ يجمعهم أصلٌ مشتركٌ دون أن يكون أحدهم فرعًا للآخر.
- Article 7
The article explains how to count the degree of direct and indirect kinship, and treats a spouse's relatives as having the same kinship and degree in relation to the other spouse.
1- تتحدد درجة القرابة المباشرة باعتبار كل فرعٍ درجةً عند الصعود للأصل دون حساب الأصل، وتتحدد درجة القرابة غير المباشرة بعدد الفروع صعودًا من الفرع للأصل المشترك
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.