Article 298 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 298 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثالث: عدم سماع الدعوى بمرور الزمن (التقادم المانع من سماع الدعوى
The article provides that the periods after which a claim is not heard for the rights in paragraph (a) of Article 296 and the rights in Article 297 apply even if dealing continues, and that a document makes the period 10 years from its date.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تُسمع الدعوى في الحقوق الواردة في الفقرة (أ) من المادة (السادسة والتسعين بعد المائتين) من هذا النظام والحقوق الواردة في المادة (السابعة والتسعين بعد المائتين) من هذا النظام بانقضاء المدد المعينة ولو استمر نوع التعامل بين أصحابها والمدينين بها، وإذا حُرِّر سند بحقٍّ من هذه الحقوق لم يمتنع سماع الدعوى به إلا بانقضاء (عشر) سنوات من تاريخ تحرير السند.
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 298 explained in plain English
This article lays down two rules concerning two categories of rights:
- The rights stated in paragraph (a) of Article 296.
- The rights stated in Article 297, which are merchants' rights for goods and services supplied to persons who do not trade in them, the rights of owners of establishments set up to lodge guests, restaurants and the like arising from carrying on those activities, and the rights of hired workers for daily and non-daily wages and the price of things they supplied.
First rule - continued dealing does not prevent the period from running: a claim on these rights is not heard after the specified periods have passed even if the type of dealing continues between their holders and the debtors. For example, a continuing relationship between a merchant and his customer does not prevent the period from running on old debts.
Second rule - the effect of drawing up a document: if a document was drawn up for one of these rights, hearing the claim on it is barred only after 10 years from the date the document was drawn up. A written document therefore changes both the period and its starting point.
This article relates to Article 299, which provides that the period after which a claim is not heard begins, where there is no legal provision, from the day the right becomes due for performance. In the case of a document mentioned here, the text fixes the start of the period as the date the document was drawn up.
In practice, it is useful for holders of these rights to document their dues with written instruments. To calculate the period in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in civil or commercial cases.
Practical example
A restaurant in Dammam deals with a customer who orders meals continually and defers payment. Their continuing dealing does not prevent the period from running on the old amounts. But if the customer signs a document for the accumulated amount, hearing the claim on it is barred only after 10 years from the date the document was drawn up.
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 298 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Does continued dealing suspend the period after which a claim is not heard?
No. A claim on these rights is not heard after the specified periods have passed even if the type of dealing continues between their holders and the debtors.
What is the effect of writing a document for the debt on the period for claiming it?
If a document was drawn up for one of these rights, hearing the claim on it is barred only after 10 years from the date the document was drawn up.
Which rights does this article apply to?
The rights stated in paragraph (a) of Article 296 and the rights stated in Article 297.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 296
The article sets a period of 5 years after which a claim is not heard against a party who denies it, for the rights of the liberal professions and recurring periodic rights, with an exception of 10 years for the proceeds owed by a bad-faith possessor and endowment proceeds.
دون إخلال بالنصوص النظامية، لا تُسمع الدعوى على المنكر بانقضاء (خمس) سنوات في الحقوق الآتية: أ- حقوق أصحاب المهن الحرة، كالأطباء والمحامين والمهندسين عما أدوه م
- Article 297
The article sets a period of one year after which a claim is not heard against a party who denies it, for merchants' rights against non-traders, the rights of hotels, restaurants and the like, and the rights of hired workers for wages and the price of what they supplied.
دون إخلال بالنصوص النظامية، لا تُسمع الدعوى على المنكر بانقضاء (سنة) في الحقوق الآتية: أ- حقوق التّجار عن السلع والخدمات المقدمة لأشخاصٍ لا يتّجرونَ فيها. ب- حق
More articles on Limitation Periods
- Article 79
An action to annul a contract is not heard after one year from knowledge of its ground, or from attaining full capacity or the end of duress, nor after ten years from contracting except in the case of partial incapacity.
1- لا تسمع دعوى إبطال العقد إذا انقضت (سنة) من تاريخ العلم بسبب الإبطال، وإذا كان إبطال العقد لنقص الأهلية أو الإكراه فبانقضاء (سنة) من تاريخ اكتمال الأهلية أو
- Article 81
Any interested person may rely on the nullity of a void contract and the court rules on it of its own motion; ratification does not cure it, and an action on it is not heard after ten years, though it may be raised as a defense at any time.
1- إذا وقع العقد باطلًا جاز لكل ذي مصلحة أن يتمسك بالبطلان، وللمحكمة أن تقضي به من تلقاء نفسها، ولا يزول البطلان بالإجازة. 2- لا تسمع دعوى البطلان إذا انقضت (عش
- Article 143
A compensation claim for a harmful act is not heard after 3 years from knowledge of the damage and the person liable, nor after 10 years from its occurrence, with a special rule for a claim arising from a crime.
1- لا تُسمع دعوى التعويض الناشئة عن الفعل الضار بانقضاء (ثلاث) سنوات من تاريخ علم المتضرر بوقوع الضرر وبالمسؤول عنه. وفي جميع الأحوال لا تسمع الدعوى بانقضاء (عش
- Article 159
The article bars hearing claims for unjust enrichment, undue payment and unauthorized agency 3 years after the creditor learns of his right, and in all cases 10 years after the right arose.
لا تُسمع الدعوى الناشئة عن الإثراء بلا سبب أو دفع غير المستحق أو الفضالة بانقضاء (ثلاث) سنوات من تاريخ علم الدائن بحقه. وفي جميع الأحوال لا تُسمع الدعوى بانقضاء
- Article 188
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.
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.
- Article 230
The Article provides that non-hearing of a claim due to lapse of time as to one jointly liable debtor benefits the others only to the extent of his share, and that suspension or interruption of the period for one cannot be asserted against the others.
1- لا يفيد عدم سماع الدعوى لمرور الزمن بالنسبة إلى أحد المدينين المتضامنين باقي المدينين إلا بقدر حصة ذلك المدين. 2- ليس للدائن أن يتمسك بوقف سريان مرور الزمن أ
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.