Article 168 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 168 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفصل الأول: التنفيذ العيني
The article distinguishes between an obligation to exercise the care of an ordinary person, which is fulfilled even if the aim is not achieved, and an obligation to achieve a result, which is fulfilled only when it is achieved.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا كان المطلوب من المدين هو المحافظة على الشيء أو القيام بإدارته أو توخي الحيطة في تنفيذ التزامه، فإنه يكون قد وفى بالالتزام إذا بذل في تنفيذه عناية الشخص المعتاد ولو لم يتحقق الغرض المقصود، ما لم يقض نص نظامي بخلاف ذلك، أما إذا كان المطلوب هو تحقيق غاية فلا يُعدُّ الوفاء حاصلًا إلا بتحقق تلك الغاية.
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 168 explained in plain English
Article 168 sets a standard for knowing when a debtor has fulfilled his obligation, and distinguishes between two types of obligation:
First: an obligation to exercise care. If what is required of the debtor is:
- To look after the thing, or
- To manage it, or
- To exercise caution in performing his obligation,
then he has fulfilled the obligation if he exercised the care of an ordinary person in performing it, even if the intended aim was not achieved. What counts here is effort and diligence, not the result. The exception is where a statutory provision provides otherwise.
Second: an obligation to achieve a result. If what is required is achieving a certain result, performance is not regarded as having occurred except when that result is achieved. It is not enough for the debtor to do his best if the required result is not achieved.
The importance of this distinction lies in determining whether the debtor has breached his obligation and the consequences that follow. One form of breach is dealt with by Article 169 in the case of an obligation to refrain from an act, which allows the creditor to request removal of what was done in breach, together with compensation where warranted. This is useful when drafting contracts, in deciding whether effort or a result is what is required. To characterize a particular obligation, you may consult a lawyer specializing in civil and compensation cases.
Practical example
Badr left his car with a friend to look after during a trip. The friend parked it in a safe, enclosed place as an ordinary person would, but it broke down because of the summer heat. The friend is regarded as having fulfilled his obligation because he exercised the care of an ordinary person. By contrast, if a workshop undertook to repair a specific fault in the car, its obligation is not regarded as performed unless the fault is actually repaired.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 168 of Civil Transactions Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Unwan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 168 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
What is the difference between an obligation to exercise care and an obligation to achieve a result?
In the first, it is enough for the debtor to exercise the care of an ordinary person even if the aim is not achieved; in the second, performance is not regarded as having occurred unless the result is achieved.
Which obligations are fulfilled by exercising care?
Looking after a thing, managing it, or exercising caution in performing the obligation, unless a statutory provision provides otherwise.
Is the debtor in breach if the aim is not achieved despite his diligence?
If his obligation is one of exercising care and he exercised the care of an ordinary person, he has fulfilled his obligation even if the intended aim was not achieved.
More articles on Performance of Obligations and Agreed Compensation
- Article 107
The article lets a party to a bilateral contract, after warning the defaulting party, demand performance or termination, with compensation if warranted, in either case.
في العقود الملزمة للجانبين، إذا لم يوف أحد المتعاقدين بالتزامه، فللمتعاقد الآخر بعد إعذاره المتعاقد المخل أن يطلب تنفيذ العقد أو فسخه، مع التعويض في الحالتين إن
- Article 161
The article requires the debtor to perform his obligation when it falls due and allows it to be enforced against him by compulsion if he refuses, once the conditions for compulsory enforcement under the law are met.
يجب على المدين تنفيذ التزامه عند استحقاقه، فإذا امتنع نفذ عليه جبرًا متى استوفى التنفيذ الجبري شروطه النظامية.
- Article 162
The article provides that an obligation that does not meet the conditions for compulsory enforcement remains owed on a moral basis (diyanah); if the debtor performs it voluntarily, the performance is valid and is neither a gift nor an undue payment.
إذا لم يستوف الالتزام الشروط النظامية لتنفيذه جبرًا يبقى قائمًا في ذمة المدين ديانةً، فإذا وفاه مختارًا كان وفاؤه صحيحًا ولا يُعدُّ تبرعًا ولا دفعًا لغير المستح
- Article 163
The article provides that an obligation owed on a moral basis (diyanah) is a valid foundation on which the debtor may build a legal obligation.
الالتزام القائم ديانةً يُعدُّ أساسًا صالحًا لأن يبني عليه المدين التزامًا نظاميًّا.
- Article 164
The article compels the debtor, after formal notice, to perform in kind where possible, and lets the court, at his request, limit the creditor to compensation if performance is burdensome and causes the creditor no serious harm.
1- يُجبَر المدين بعد إعذاره على تنفيذ التزامه تنفيذًا عينيًّا متى كان ذلك ممكنًا. 2- إذا كان في التنفيذ العيني إرهاقٌ للمدين جاز للمحكمة بناءً على طلبه أن تقصر
- Article 165
The article provides that a right to a thing specified by kind attaches to a particular item only once it is set apart, and lets the creditor, on non-performance, obtain a like item at the debtor's expense.
1- إذا تعلق الحق بشيء معين بالنوع لا بالذات، فإنه لا يختص بشيء بذاته من ذلك النوع إلا بإفرازه. 2- إذا لم يقم المدين بتنفيذ التزامه جاز للدائن أن يحصل على شيء من
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.