Article 130 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 130 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثالث: المسؤولية عن الضرر الناجم عن الأشياء
An animal's keeper is liable to compensate for the damage the animal causes, unless he proves that the damage was due to a cause beyond his control.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون حارس الحيوان مسؤولًا عن تعويض الضرر الذي يحدثه الحيوان؛ ما لم يثبت أن الضرر كان بسبب لا يد له فيه.
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 130 explained in plain English
This article establishes the liability of an animal's keeper to compensate for the damage that animal causes.
The key points of the article:
- Liability falls on the keeper; what matters is who has charge of keeping the animal.
- The text does not require the injured person to prove the keeper's fault for liability to arise.
- The keeper can escape liability if he proves that the damage was due to a cause beyond his control.
The burden of proof here is on the keeper, not the injured person, which makes this liability easier for the injured person to claim.
This article is linked to Article 129, which deals with liability for the act of another, such as the liability of a supervisor and a principal, and to Article 131, which establishes the liability of a building's keeper for damage resulting from its collapse, unless he proves that the damage is not due to neglect of maintenance, age of the building or a defect in it.
The text of the article does not state who counts as a keeper, so it cannot be assumed that it is always the owner. Anyone injured by an animal, or facing a claim because of one, should consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in civil and compensation cases.
Practical example
A dog that Sultan was keeping got out of the yard of his home in Taif and bit a passerby. Sultan is liable to compensate the injured person, unless he proves that the damage was due to a cause beyond his control.
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 130 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Who pays the compensation if a dog bites me?
An animal's keeper is liable to compensate for the damage the animal causes, unless he proves that the damage was due to a cause beyond his control.
Must I prove the animal owner's negligence?
The article makes the animal's keeper liable for the damage and places on him the burden of proving that the damage was due to a cause beyond his control in order to escape liability.
When is an animal's keeper not liable?
If he proves that the damage was due to a cause beyond his control.
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.