Article 188 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 188 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثاني: دعوى عدم نفاذ تصرفات المدين في حق دائنيه
The article sets the periods for the claim of non-enforceability: it is not heard one year after the creditor learns of its ground, nor in any case ten years after the date of the act.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تُسمع دعوى عدم نفاذ التصرف بانقضاء (سنة) من تاريخ علم الدائن بسبب عدم النفاذ، ولا تُسمع الدعوى في جميع الأحوال بانقضاء (عشر) سنوات من تاريخ التصرف.
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 188 explained in plain English
This article sets two periods after which the claim of non-enforceability of an act is not heard. This is the claim in which a creditor seeks that his debtor's act be unenforceable against him:
- One year running from the date the creditor learns of the ground for unenforceability; if the year passes from the date of his knowledge, his claim is not heard.
- Ten years running from the date of the act itself, which is a final limit after which the claim is not heard in all cases, even if the creditor did not learn of the ground for unenforceability.
The creditor must therefore bring his claim before either period expires; if he learns of the ground, for example, nine and a half years after the act, the time remaining to him is what is left of the ten years, not a full year.
The expression that the claim is not heard means that the claim is not considered after the period has passed. The article does not address cases in which these periods are suspended or interrupted.
Because calculating the date of knowledge may give rise to disputes, a creditor who believes his debtor has disposed of his assets to his detriment should promptly consult a lawyer specializing in civil cases.
Practical example
In the month of Muharram, Nasser learned that his debtor had given land as a gift to a relative three years earlier, and that this harmed him. Nasser must bring the claim of non-enforceability of the act before one year passes from the date of his knowledge, otherwise his claim will not be heard.
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 188 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 188 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
What is the time limit for bringing a claim that a debtor's act is unenforceable?
The claim is not heard once one year has passed from the date the creditor learns of the ground for unenforceability.
Is the claim heard if the creditor learns of it only after many years?
The claim is not heard in any case once ten years have passed from the date of the act.
When does the one-year period start?
From the date the creditor learns of the ground for unenforceability.
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.