Article 125 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 125 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الأول: مسؤولية الشخص عن فعله
A person is not liable for damage if it is proven that it arose from a cause beyond his control, such as force majeure, the fault of another or the fault of the injured person, unless otherwise agreed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يكون الشخص مسؤولًا إذا ثبت أن الضرر قد نشأ عن سببٍ لا يد له فيه، كقوةٍ قاهرةٍ أو خطأ الغير أو خطأ المتضرر؛ ما لم يُتفق على خلاف ذلك.
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 125 explained in plain English
This article sets out a case in which liability for damage is negated, namely when it is proven that the damage arose from a cause beyond the person's control. The article gives examples of such a cause:
- Force majeure.
- The fault of another, meaning a person other than the defendant and other than the injured person.
- The fault of the injured person himself.
It is understood from the phrase "if it is proven" that negating liability depends on proving that the damage arose from this cause. These causes are given as examples ("such as force majeure"), so the criterion is that the cause be one beyond the person's control.
The article ends with the phrase "unless otherwise agreed," meaning this rule can be changed by agreement of the parties, for example by agreeing that one of them bears liability even in such cases.
This article differs from Article 124, which deals with someone who caused damage himself to avoid a greater damage; there he is obliged to pay compensation set by the court, whereas here the damage is not attributed to the person at all. It is also linked to Article 126, which negates the liability of a public employee for his work that harms others, under specified conditions.
Because proving a cause beyond the person's control depends on the facts of each case, consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in civil and compensation cases.
Practical example
Nawal's car was lawfully parked in front of her home in Medina when a car driven by another person hit it and pushed it into her neighbor's car, which was damaged. If it is proven that the damage to the neighbor's car arose from the fault of the other driver, Nawal is not liable for it.
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 125 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Does force majeure exempt a person from compensation?
Yes. A person is not liable if it is proven that the damage arose from a cause beyond his control, such as force majeure, unless otherwise agreed.
If the damage was caused by the injured person's own fault, am I liable?
A person is not liable if it is proven that the damage arose from the fault of the injured person, because that is a cause beyond his control.
Can the parties agree to bear liability despite force majeure?
Yes. The article provides that its rule applies unless otherwise agreed.
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 118
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.
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.
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.