Article 118 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 118 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفصل الثالث: الفعل الضار
The article provides that the provisions on harmful acts apply to liability arising from the act of a natural or legal person, subject to liability provisions in special statutory texts.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة أحكام المسؤولية الواردة في نصوص نظامية خاصة؛ تسري أحكام هذا الفصل على المسؤولية الناشئة عن الفعل الضار من الشخص ذي الصفة الطبيعية أو الاعتبارية.
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 118 explained in plain English
This article defines the scope of application of the chapter on harmful acts, meaning liability for damage that one person causes to another outside the framework of a contract.
Who the provisions cover: the provisions of this chapter apply to liability arising from a harmful act committed by:
- A natural person, meaning an individual human being.
- A legal person, such as companies, establishments and associations.
This means that a company or entity with legal personality is subject to the provisions of this chapter just as an individual is.
The qualification: subject to special provisions. The text begins with the phrase "subject to the liability provisions contained in special statutory texts." If a special law regulates liability in a particular field, its provisions must be observed. The article does not list these special texts.
The article is linked to Article 119, which provides that civil liability does not prejudice criminal liability, and that punishment has no effect on the scope of civil liability or the assessment of compensation.
Anyone who suffered harm from the act of a person or entity and is considering claiming compensation should consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in civil and compensation cases to determine which provisions apply to their situation, and whether a special law regulates liability in that field.
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 118 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Do the compensation provisions for harmful acts apply to companies?
Yes. The provisions of this chapter apply to liability arising from a harmful act committed by a natural or legal person.
What if a special law regulates liability?
The provisions of this chapter are applied subject to the liability provisions contained in special statutory texts.
Does this chapter override the liability provisions in special laws?
No. The article begins with the phrase "subject to the liability provisions contained in special statutory texts."
More articles on Compensation for Harm
- Article 28
The article provides that a person who uses his right lawfully is not liable for any harm that arises from that.
من استعمل حقه استعمالًا مشروعًا لا يكون مسؤولًا عما ينشأ عن ذلك من ضرر.
- Article 29
The article prohibits abuse in using a right, and sets its cases: aiming only to harm others, benefit entirely disproportionate to the harm caused, and use for something other than what the right was granted for or for an unlawful purpose.
1- لا يجوز التعسف في استعمال الحق. 2- يكون استعمال الحق تعسفيًّا في الحالات الآتية: أ- إذا لم يقصد بالاستعمال سوى الإضرار بالغير. ب- إذا كانت المنفعة من استعمال
- Article 35
The offeror may withdraw his offer before acceptance is made unless the offer has a fixed period, and if he does not inform the other party he compensates him for the harm suffered but not the expected profit.
1- للموجب أن يعدل عن الإيجاب قبل صدور القبول؛ ما لم تكن للإيجاب مدةٌ معينة. 2- إذا لم تكن للإيجاب مدة معينة؛ فعلى الموجب إذا عدل إعلام من وجه إليه الإيجاب بذلك،
- Article 41
Negotiating does not oblige the parties to conclude a contract, but a person who negotiates or ends negotiations in bad faith is liable for the harm, not for expected profit; bad faith includes lack of seriousness and concealing an essential fact.
1- ذا تمَّ التفاوض على عقد فلا يرتب ذلك على أطراف التفاوض التزامًا بإبرام هذا العقد، ومع ذلك يكون من يتفاوض أو يُنهي التفاوض بسوء نية مسؤولًا عن الضرر الذي أصاب
- Article 56
If a partially incapacitated person resorts to fraudulent means to conceal his incapacity, he must compensate the other contracting party for the harm caused by the annulment of the contract.
إذا لجأ ناقص الأهلية إلى طرقٍ احتياليَّةٍ لإخفاء نقص أهليته لزمه التعويض عن الضرر الذي أصاب المتعاقد معه بسبب إبطال العقد.
- Article 119
The article provides that civil liability does not prejudice criminal liability, and that punishment has no effect on the scope of civil liability or the assessment of compensation.
لا تخل المسؤولية المدنية بالمسؤولية الجزائية، ولا تأثير للعقوبة في تحديد نطاق المسؤولية المدنية وتقدير التعويض.
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.