Article 134 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 134 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثالث: المسؤولية عن الضرر الناجم عن الأشياء
The keeper of a thing is whoever has actual authority over it, himself or through another, even if he lacks discernment, and the owner is presumed to be the keeper unless custody is shown to have passed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُعَدُّ حارسًا للشيء من له بنفسه أو بوساطة غيره سلطة فعليّة عليه ولو كان الحارس غير مميز، ويفترض أن مالك الشيء هو حارسه ما لم يقم الدليل على أن الحراسة انتقلت لغيره.
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 134 explained in plain English
This article determines who is considered the keeper of a thing, an important question because liability for damage caused by things falls on the keeper.
According to the article:
- The keeper is whoever has actual authority over the thing; what matters is actual control.
- This authority exists whether the person exercises it himself or through another.
- A person is considered a keeper even if he lacks discernment.
- The owner is presumed to be the keeper of the thing, unless evidence is shown that custody passed to someone else.
The meaning of the last presumption is that the injured person may claim against the owner of the thing as keeper, and the owner, if he wants to escape that, must prove that custody passed to another person. The article does not specify the ways in which custody passes, so that remains a question of proof according to the facts.
This article is linked to Article 133, which gives someone threatened with damage from a particular thing the right to demand that its keeper take measures to avert the danger, and places the cost of measures carried out with the court's permission on the owner. It is also linked to Article 135, which limits the exercise of a right in public utilities by the safety of others.
To determine who is the liable keeper in a particular incident, consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in civil and compensation cases.
Practical example
Khaled lent a forklift he owns to his friend's warehouse in Dammam for a week, and it caused harm to a worker. Khaled, as the owner, is presumed to be the keeper, unless he proves that custody actually passed to his friend during that period.
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 134 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Who is considered the keeper of a thing?
Whoever has actual authority over the thing, himself or through another, even if he lacks discernment.
Is the owner of a thing always its keeper?
The owner is presumed to be the keeper, unless evidence is shown that custody passed to someone else.
Can a child be the keeper of a thing?
Yes. The article provides that a person is considered a keeper even if he lacks discernment.
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.