Article 343 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 343 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثاني: آثار عقد البيع أولًا: التزامات البائع
An agreement may exempt the seller from the warranty against defects, or limit or increase it, unless the seller deliberately concealed the defect.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يصحُّ الاتفاق على إعفاء البائع من ضمان العيب أو الحد من هذا الضمان أو زيادته ما لم يكن البائع قد تعمد إخفاءه.
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 343 explained in plain English
This article gives the parties to a sale freedom to modify the warranty against defects by agreement. They may agree to:
- exempt the seller from the warranty against defects entirely, as in the sale known among people as a sale "as is" or "without warranty";
- limit the warranty, for example restricting it to particular defects;
- increase the warranty, for example where the seller undertakes a wider warranty.
But this freedom is subject to one limit stated in the article: a clause exempting or limiting the warranty does not help the seller if he deliberately concealed the defect. A seller who knows of the defect and conceals it on purpose cannot shelter behind the clause.
In practice, a person who buys under a clause exempting the seller from the warranty should inspect the item well, because the clause is valid in principle. A seller should know that the clause does not protect him from the consequence of deliberate concealment.
In a related context, Article 342 deals with a defect appearing in some of the things sold in one transaction. Article 344 provides that a claim on the warranty against defects is not heard after 180 days from the date of delivery of the item, unless the seller undertook the warranty for a longer period, and the seller may not rely on this period if it is proved that the concealment of the defect was by fraud on his part.
When drafting a warranty clause in a sale contract, or in a dispute about deliberate concealment, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in civil or commercial cases.
Practical example
Hamad sold his used car to a person in Taif, and the contract stated that it was sold without warranty against defects. A gearbox fault later appeared. The clause is valid and Hamad does not warrant the defect, unless it is proved that he knew of the fault and deliberately concealed it, in which case the exemption clause does not help him.
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 343 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Is an "goods not returnable" clause or a sale without warranty valid?
An agreement exempting the seller from the warranty against defects, or limiting it, is valid, unless the seller deliberately concealed the defect.
Does an exemption clause protect a seller who concealed the defect?
No. The article excepts the case where the seller deliberately concealed the defect.
May the seller's warranty against defects be increased?
Yes. The article provides that an agreement to increase the warranty against defects is valid.
More articles on Sale Contract
- Article 23
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
Paying earnest money gives only the payer the right to withdraw from the contract without recovering it, unless otherwise agreed; the court sets the withdrawal period if the parties have not.
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
- Article 166
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
Article 307 defines sale as a contract under which the seller transfers ownership of the item sold to the buyer for a cash price.
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.