Article 482 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 482 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الأول: إنشاء عقد الوكالة
An agency is not valid if worded in general terms that do not specify the type of legal act for which the agent is authorized.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تصح الوكالة بألفاظ عامة لا تخصيص فيها لنوع التصرف النظامي محل الوكالة.
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 482 explained in plain English
This article sets a basic condition for the validity of an agency: it must specify the type of legal act for which the agent is authorized. If the agency uses general wording that does not specify a type of act, such as the principal saying "I appoint you for everything", it is not valid.
The purpose is to protect the principal, because an agency lets the agent act in the principal's name, and leaving it open with no specification could open the door to acts the principal did not intend or foresee.
This article fits with the provisions around it:
- Article 481 allows an agency to be unrestricted, restricted, conditional on a condition or deferred to a term, but that does not remove the need to specify the type of act.
- Article 483 is satisfied with specifying the type of act even if its subject is not specified, unless the act is a gratuitous one (a donation).
What is required, then, is that the principal state the type of work, such as selling, leasing or buying, even if the principal does not specify the thing on which the act will fall, unless it is a gratuitous act. Anyone who wants to issue an agency or doubts the validity of an agency issued should consider consulting a lawyer specializing in civil matters.
Practical example
Khaled wrote a note to his friend saying, "I appoint you for all my affairs". The friend then wanted to sell Khaled's car on the strength of this note. This wording is general and does not specify the type of act, so the agency is not valid under the article. Had Khaled written, "I appoint you to sell my cars", the type of act would have been specified.
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 482 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Is an agency valid with the words "I appoint you for everything"?
No. The article does not allow an agency in general terms that do not specify the type of legal act it covers.
What is required for an agency to be valid as to wording?
It must specify the type of legal act authorized, such as selling, buying or leasing.
Must the thing on which the act will fall be specified?
Under Article 483, specifying the type of act is enough even if its subject is not specified, unless the act is a gratuitous one.
More articles on Agency Contract
- Article 87
The article permits contracting through representation unless statutory texts require otherwise, and divides representation into agreed, judicial and statutory.
1- يصح التعاقد بالنيابة؛ ما لم تقتض النصوص النظامية خلاف ذلك. 2- تكون النيابة في التعاقد اتفاقيةً أو قضائيةً أو نظاميةً.
- Article 88
The article prohibits a representative from exceeding the limits of his representation as set in the instrument creating it, whether a contract, a court judgment or a statutory text.
ليس للنائب أن يتجاوز حدود نيابته المعيَّنة في سند إنشائها، سواء أكان السند عقدًا أم حكمًا قضائيًّا أم نصًّا نظاميًّا.
- Article 90
If the representative contracts within the limits of his representation and in the principal's name, the rights and obligations arising from the contract are attributed to the principal.
إذا تعاقد النائب في حدود نيابته باسم الأصيل فإن ما ينشأ عن العقد من حقوقٍ والتزاماتٍ يُضاف إلى الأصيل.
- Article 152
The article provides that when the beneficiary approves what the volunteer agent did, the rules of agency apply to that work.
تسري أحكام الوكالة إذا أجاز المنتفع ما قام به الفضولي.
- Article 356
A representative may not buy for himself what he was entrusted to sell, even at auction or in another's name, without permission; the same applies to an intermediary, expert and the like.
مع مراعاة النصوص النظامية؛ ليس للنائب أن يشتري لنفسه باسمه أو اسم غيره ولو بطريق المزاد ما عهد إليه بيعه بمقتضى نيابته ما لم يكن مأذونًا له بذلك، كما لا يحق ذلك
- Article 357
A sale by a representative, intermediary or expert to himself does not take effect against the owner unless he approves it, while a good-faith specific successor who acquired a real right for consideration is protected.
إذا تمَّ البيع في الأحوال المنصوص عليها في المادة (السادسة والخمسين بعد الثلاثمائة) من هذا النظام، لم ينفذ في حق من تم لحسابه إلا إذا أجازه، وليس له أن يحتج بعد
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.