Article 474 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 474 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الرابع: المقاولة من الباطن
The article prevents a subcontractor from claiming from the client for itself anything due to the main contractor, unless the contractor referred the subcontractor to the client.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز للمقاول من الباطن أن يطالب لنفسه صاحب العمل بشيءٍ مما يستحقه المقاول إلا إذا أحاله على صاحب العمل.
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 474 explained in plain English
This article defines the subcontractor's relationship with the client. The rule is that the subcontractor contracts with the main contractor, not with the client, and therefore:
- The subcontractor may not claim from the client for itself anything that the main contractor is owed by the client.
- The exception: if the contractor referred the subcontractor to the client, meaning transferred to the subcontractor the right to claim, the subcontractor may then claim from the client.
This article completes Article 473, which allows the contractor to assign all or part of the work to a subcontractor except in the cases that prevent it, and keeps the main contractor's liability toward the client. The relationship is thus two-directional: the main contractor remains liable to the client, and the subcontractor has recourse against the main contractor, not the client, unless there is a referral.
In practice this means a subcontractor who wants to secure its right from the client directly needs a referral from the main contractor. The text does not detail the conditions of this referral. In a dispute over dues, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in civil matters or in contracting and real estate cases.
Practical example
A general contractor assigned the air conditioning works in a hotel project in Makkah to a firm as subcontractor, and was then late in paying its dues. The firm may not claim directly from the hotel owner anything due to the general contractor, unless the general contractor had referred the firm to the owner.
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 474 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
May a subcontractor claim from the client directly?
The subcontractor may not claim from the client for itself anything due to the main contractor, unless the contractor referred the subcontractor to the client.
How does a subcontractor secure its right from the client?
According to the article, the subcontractor needs the main contractor to refer it to the client so that it can claim directly.
More articles on Contracting (Construction) Contract
- Article 167
The article regulates performance of an obligation to perform work: the creditor's right to refuse performance by anyone but the debtor, performance at the debtor's expense with or without court permission when urgent, and a judgment standing in for the work.
إذا كان الالتزام بعمل فتسري على تنفيذه الأحكام الآتية: أ- إذا نص الاتفاق أو اقتضت طبيعة العمل أن ينفذ المدين الالتزام بنفسه جاز للدائن أن يرفض الوفاء من غير الم
- Article 461
The article defines the contracting (muqawala) contract as one in which the contractor undertakes to make a thing or perform work for a fee, without being subordinate to or an agent of the client.
المقاولة عقدٌ يلتزم بمقتضاه المقاول بصنع شيءٍ أو أداء عملٍ مقابل أجر دون أن يكون تابعًا لصاحب العمل ولا نائبًا عنه.
- Article 462
The article allows the contractor to carry out the work with materials supplied by the contractor or with materials supplied by the client.
يصح أن يكون التزام المقاول بتنفيذ العمل بمواد من عنده أو من صاحب العمل.
- Article 463
The article sets the contractor's obligations on materials: if the contractor supplies them, they must meet the specifications or be fit for the purpose by custom; if the client supplies them, the contractor must safeguard them, observe technical rules and return what is left.
1- إذا اشترط صاحب العمل أن يقدم المقاول المواد كلها أو بعضها؛ كان المقاول مسؤولًا عن توفر الشروط والمواصفات المتفق عليها إن وجدت، وإلا التزم بأن تكون وافيةً بال
- Article 464
The article puts the expenses of the machines and tools needed to complete the work on the contractor, unless the parties agree otherwise.
يتحمَّل المقاول نفقات ما يستلزمه إنجاز العمل من آلات وأدوات، ما لم يتفق على خلاف ذلك.
- Article 465
The article requires the contractor to complete the work according to the contract terms and within the agreed period, failing which according to the recognized standards and within the reasonable time the nature of the work requires.
يلتزم المقاول بإنجاز العمل وفقًا لشروط العقد وفي المدة المتفق عليها، فإن لم تكن هناك شروطٌ أو لم يُتفق على مدةٍ التزم بإنجازه وفقًا للأصول المتعارف عليها وفي ال
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.