Article 197 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 197 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الأول: الشرط
The article defines a conditional obligation as one whose existence or disappearance depends on a future event that may or may not occur.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون الالتزام معلَّقًا على شرطٍ إذا كان وجوده أو زواله مترتِّبًا على أمرٍ مستقبلٍ محتمل الوقوع.
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 197 explained in plain English
This article provides the definition of an obligation subject to a condition, which is the basis for understanding the rules on conditions.
Elements of the definition:
- A future event: one that has not yet occurred when the obligation arises.
- One that may or may not occur: it may happen or may not; if its occurrence is certain, it is not a condition in the sense used in the article.
- Its effect on the obligation: either the existence of the obligation depends on it, or its disappearance does.
A condition may thus be a cause for the obligation to come into being when it is fulfilled, or a cause for it to end when it is fulfilled, and the common element is uncertainty whether the event on which it depends will occur.
Article 198 deals with the case where the obligation is made conditional on something that is not a future uncertain event: if it is an event that has already occurred, the obligation is treated as immediate, and if it is impossible, the condition is void and the obligation dependent on it is void.
Anyone who wants to draft a contract containing conditions of this kind would do well to use a lawyer specializing in civil cases.
Practical example
Ahmed agreed with the owner of an apartment in Jeddah to buy it if he obtains approval from the financing institution within two months. Approval is a future event that may or may not happen, so his obligation to buy is an obligation subject to a condition.
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 197 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 197 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
What does an obligation subject to a condition mean?
It is an obligation whose existence or disappearance depends on a future event that may or may not occur.
Is an event that has already happened a condition?
No. Article 198 provides that if an obligation is made conditional on an event that has occurred, it is treated as immediate.
Does the condition relate only to the existence of the obligation?
No. The condition may determine the existence of the obligation or its disappearance.
More articles on Condition, Term and Joint Liability
- Article 127
If several persons are liable for a harmful act, they are jointly liable for compensation, the court sets each one's share, and if that is not possible, liability is divided equally.
إذا تعدد المسؤولون عن فعل ضار كانوا متضامنين في التزامهم بتعويض الضرر، وتعين المحكمة نصيب كل منهم في التعويض وفق القواعد الواردة في هذا الفصل، وإذا تعذر ذلك كان
- Article 198
The article provides that an obligation made conditional on an event that has occurred is treated as immediate, and one made conditional on something impossible has a void condition and is itself void.
إذا علق الالتزام على أمر واقع عد الالتزام ناجزًا، وإذا علق على أمر مستحيل عد الشرط باطلًا، ويبطل الالتزام الذي علق عليه.
- Article 199
The article provides that an obligation does not arise if it is made conditional on a condition whose purpose is to encourage something unlawful.
لا ينشأ الالتزام إذا عُلق على شرطٍ يكون القصد من التعليق عليه الحض على أمر غير مشروع.
- Article 200
The article provides that an obligation does not exist if it is made conditional on a suspensive condition making its existence depend on the mere will of the obligor.
لا يكون الالتزام قائمًا إذا علق على شرط واقف يجعل وجود الالتزام متوقفًا على محض إرادة الملتزم.
- Article 201
The article provides that an obligation subject to a suspensive condition is not enforceable unless the condition is fulfilled and cannot be performed before then, while the creditor may take steps to preserve his right.
لا يكون الالتزام المعلق على شرط واقف نافذًا إلا إذا تحقق الشرط المعلق عليه، ولا يكون الالتزام قبل تحقق الشرط قابلًا للتنفيذ، وللدائن أن يتخذ من الإجراءات ما يُح
- Article 202
The article provides that fulfillment of a resolutory condition ends the obligation, the creditor must return what he took or pay compensation if return became impossible for a reason he is responsible for, and acts of administration remain in force.
يترتب على تحقق الشرط الفاسخ زوال الالتزام، ويلزم الدائن رد ما أخذه، فإذا استحال الرد لسبب هو مسؤولٌ عنه لزمه التعويض، وتبقى أعمال الإدارة التي تصدر من الدائن نا
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.