Article 344 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 344 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثاني: آثار عقد البيع أولًا: التزامات البائع
A claim on the warranty against defects is not heard after 180 days from delivery unless the seller undertook a longer warranty, and the seller cannot rely on this period if he concealed the defect by fraud.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لا تُسمع دعوى ضمان العيب بانقضاء (مائةٍ وثمانين) يومًا من تاريخ تسليم المبيع؛ ما لم يلتزم البائع بالضمان مدة أطول.
2- ليس للبائع أن يتمسك بانقضاء المدة الواردة في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة إذا ثبت أن إخفاء العيب كان بغشٍّ منه.
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 344 explained in plain English
This article sets the period within which a claim on the warranty against defects must be brought, which is among the most practically important rules for the buyer.
The rule: a claim on the warranty against defects is not heard after 180 days from the date of delivery of the item sold. The period runs from delivery, not from the date of the contract or the date the defect was discovered.
The two exceptions:
- A longer warranty: if the seller undertook the warranty for a longer period, such as a warranty of one or two years, that period governs.
- Fraud in concealment: the seller may not rely on the lapse of the 180-day period if it is proved that the concealment of the defect was by fraud on his part.
The phrase "a claim is not heard" means the claim is not accepted after the period has passed if the seller relies on that, as appears from the second paragraph, which speaks of the seller's "relying" on the lapse of the period.
This article complements Article 343, which permits agreeing to exempt the seller from the warranty against defects, or to limit or increase it, unless he deliberately concealed the defect; agreeing on a longer warranty period is a form of increasing the warranty.
In practice, a person who discovers a defect in something he bought should check the date of delivery and whether there is a longer warranty, and act before the period expires. To assess the position, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in civil or commercial cases.
Practical example
Bandar bought a refrigerator from a store in Riyadh and received it on the first of Muharram, and it was covered by a two-year warranty from the seller. A defect appeared in it after 8 months. Although more than 180 days have passed since delivery, his claim is heard because the seller undertook the warranty for a longer period.
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 344 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
What is the time limit for bringing a warranty claim for defects in the Civil Transactions Law?
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.
From when does the 180-day period start?
From the date of delivery of the item sold.
Does the claim lapse after 180 days if the seller concealed the defect by fraud?
No. The seller may not rely on the lapse of the period if it is proved that the concealment of the defect was by fraud on his part.
More articles on Sale Contract
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- 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.
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- 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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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.