Article 334 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 334 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثاني: آثار عقد البيع أولًا: التزامات البائع
If the whole item sold is claimed by its true owner who approves the sale, he recovers the price from the seller and the item remains with the buyer.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا استحق المبيع كله كان للمستحق إذا أجاز البيع الرجوع على البائع بالثمن، ويَخلُص المبيع للمشتري.
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 334 explained in plain English
This article deals with a case where it is established that the whole item sold is owned by a person other than the seller, who is called the claimant of entitlement. The claimant then has two choices, and this article deals with one of them: to approve the sale.
If the claimant approves the sale, two things follow:
- The claimant may have recourse against the seller for the price, because the seller received the price of something he did not own.
- The item sold remains with the buyer, so it stays with him and is not taken from him.
The result is that the buyer is not harmed in this case: he has obtained the item and paid its price, and the dispute over the price moves to the relationship between the claimant and the seller.
If the claimant does not approve the sale, Article 335 regulates what the buyer may claim from the seller, such as the price, the value of fruits he was obliged to return, useful expenses, and compensation for other damages.
Article 333 sets out a different ruling concerning the buyer's settlement with the entitlement claimant for money before judgment. To determine the most suitable choice for the owner, or the buyer's position in an existing dispute, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in civil or real estate cases.
Practical example
Majed sold a car he believed to be his, and then it turned out that it was wholly owned by his brother Sultan. Sultan decided to approve the sale because the buyer had acted in good faith, so the car stays with the buyer, and Sultan has recourse against Majed for the price he received.
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 334 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
What happens if the true owner approves the sale of his property?
The owner (the claimant) has recourse against the seller for the price, and the item remains with the buyer.
Does the buyer lose the item if the claimant approves the sale?
No. The article provides that the item remains with the buyer in this case.
What if the claimant does not approve the sale?
Article 335 regulates what the buyer may claim from the seller in this case, including the price and compensation.
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The article defines consumable things as those whose use, according to what they are prepared for, is limited to consuming or spending them, and treats everything prepared in stores for sale as consumable.
الأشياء القابلة للاستهلاك هي التي ينحصر استعمالها -بحسب ما أُعدّت له- في استهلاكها أو إنفاقها، ويعد قابلًا للاستهلاك كل ما أعد في المتاجر للبيع.
- Article 44
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1- دفع العربون عند إبرام العقد يفيد أن لدافع العربون وحده الحق في العدول عن العقد، وليس له إذا عدل أن يسترد مبلغ العربون، وذلك كله ما لم يتفق على خلافه. 2- إذا
- Article 109
The article provides that exchange contracts are concluded on the basis that the subject matter is free of defects except what custom tolerates, and that an intolerable defect is a breach of the obligation.
تُعدُّ عقود المعاوضات منعقدةً على أساس سلامة محل العقد من العيوب إلا ما جرى العرف على التسامح فيه، فإذا تبيَّن في المحل عيبٌ لم يجر العرف على التسامح فيه؛ عُدَّ
- 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
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The article places the risk of destruction or damage on the debtor who failed to deliver, in two cases: transfer of a real right and an obligation to perform work involving delivery, each on different conditions.
1- الالتزام بنقل حق عيني يتضمن الالتزام بتسليم الشيء والمحافظة عليه حتى تسليمه، فإذا لم يقم المدين بتسليمه حتى هلك أو تلف كانت تبعة ذلك عليه. 2- إذا كان محل الا
- Article 307
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البيع عقد يُمَلِّكُ بمقتضاه البائع المبيع للمشتري مقابل ثمنٍ نقدي.
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.