Article 300 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 300 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثالث: عدم سماع الدعوى بمرور الزمن (التقادم المانع من سماع الدعوى
The article provides that the running of the period after which a claim is not heard is suspended whenever there is an excuse making a claim impossible, including good-faith negotiation ongoing when the period is completed and a moral impediment.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يقف سريان مدة عدم سماع الدعوى كلما وُجد عذرٌ تتعذر معه المطالبة بالحق.
2- يعدُّ من الأعذار التي يقف بها سريان مدة عدم سماع الدعوى وجود تفاوضٍ عن حسن نيَّةٍ بين الطرفين يكون قائمًا عند اكتمال المدة، أو وجود مانع أدبي يحول دون المطالبة.
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 300 explained in plain English
This article regulates the suspension of the running of the period after which a claim is not heard, that is, a temporary halt in counting the period because of an excuse.
Paragraph 1 - the general rule: the running of the period is suspended whenever there is an excuse that makes it impossible to claim the right. What counts is that the excuse actually prevents the claim.
Paragraph 2 - examples stated in the Law: the following are counted among the excuses that suspend the running of the period:
- Good-faith negotiation between the parties, provided the negotiation is ongoing when the period is completed.
- A moral impediment that prevents the claim.
The rule in paragraph 1 is general for any excuse that makes a claim impossible, and paragraph 2 mentions these two excuses with the words "are counted among the excuses."
Note that negotiation carries two conditions: it must be in good faith, and it must be ongoing when the period is completed. The article does not define a moral impediment or list its forms.
This article relates to Article 299, which sets the start of the period from the day the right becomes due for performance where there is no legal provision, and to Article 301, which provides that where there are several creditors of one debt and none of them has claimed the right, the bar on hearing the claim runs only against those of them who have no excuse.
A person negotiating with his debtor as the period nears its end should document the negotiations and consult a lawyer specializing in civil cases.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh was owed amounts by a customer, and serious good-faith negotiations began with him to settle the amount and continued until the period was completed. This negotiation counts as an excuse that suspends the running of the period after which a claim is not heard.
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 300 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Does negotiating with the debtor suspend the limitation period?
Yes. Good-faith negotiation between the parties that is ongoing when the period is completed is counted among the excuses that suspend the running of the period.
What is meant by an excuse that suspends the period?
Any excuse that makes it impossible to claim the right, including good-faith negotiation and a moral impediment.
Are the excuses mentioned in the article exhaustive?
The article states the rule for any excuse that makes a claim impossible, and mentions negotiation and moral impediment as being counted among the excuses.
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.