Article 129 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 129 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثاني: المسؤولية عن فعل الغير
The article makes a supervisor liable for damage caused by the person he supervises, and a principal liable for the fault of his subordinate, with a right of recourse for whoever paid the compensation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- من وجبت عليه نظامًا أو اتفاقًا أو قضاءً رقابة شخص لصغر سنِّه أو قصور حالته العقلية أو الجسمية؛ كان مسؤولًا عن الضرر الذي أحدثه ذلك الشخص، إلا إذا أثبت متولي الرقابة أنه قد قام بواجب الرقابة بما ينبغي من العناية أو أن الضرر كان لابد من حدوثه ولو قام بهذا الواجب بما ينبغي من العناية.
2- يكون المتبوع مسؤولًا تجاه المتضرر عن الضرر الذي يحدثه تابعه بخطئه أثناء تأدية عمله أو بسبب هذا العمل، إذا كانت للمتبوع سلطة فعلية في رقابة التابع وتوجيهه ولو لم يكن المتبوع حرًّا في اختيار تابعه.
3- لمن أدى التعويض عن الشخص الذي وقع منه الضرر في الحالتين المنصوص عليهما في الفقرتين (1) و(2) من هذه المادة حق الرجوع عليه في الحدود التي يكون فيها ذلك الشخص مسؤولًا عن تعويض الضرر.
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 129 explained in plain English
This article deals with liability for the act of another in two situations, then regulates the right of recourse.
Paragraph 1 — the supervisor: whoever is obliged by law, agreement or judgment to supervise a person because of his young age or mental or physical incapacity is liable for the damage that person causes. The supervisor may escape liability if he proves either of two things:
- That he performed the duty of supervision with the due care.
- Or that the damage was bound to occur even if he had performed this duty with the due care.
Paragraph 2 — the principal: the principal is liable toward the injured person for the damage that his subordinate causes by his fault while performing his work or because of it, provided that the principal has actual authority to supervise and direct the subordinate, even if he was not free to choose him.
Paragraph 3 — the right of recourse: whoever paid compensation in the two preceding cases may have recourse against the person who caused the damage, to the extent that person is liable for compensating the damage.
The article is linked to Article 128 on the injured person's fault, and to Article 130, which establishes the liability of an animal's keeper. Anyone who wishes to claim compensation for damage caused by a minor, an employee or a worker, or who faces such a claim, should consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in civil and compensation cases.
Practical example
A driver working for a delivery company in Riyadh was performing a delivery task and, through his fault, hit a parked car. The car's owner may claim compensation from the company because it has actual authority to supervise and direct the driver, and if the company pays the compensation, it may have recourse against the driver to the extent of his liability for the damage.
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 129 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Is an employer liable for his employee's mistakes?
The principal is liable for the damage his subordinate causes by his fault while performing his work or because of it, if he has actual authority to supervise and direct him.
Is a father liable for damage caused by his young son?
Whoever is obliged by law, agreement or judgment to supervise a person because of his young age is liable for his damage, unless he proves that he performed the duty of supervision with the necessary care or that the damage would have occurred anyway.
Can someone who paid the compensation have recourse against the person who caused the damage?
Yes. Whoever paid the compensation may have recourse against the person who caused the damage, to the extent that person is liable for compensating the damage.
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.