Article 488 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 488 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثاني: التزامات الوكيل
The article regulates the case of multiple agents: when each may act alone, when they must act together, and when they are jointly liable.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا تعدد الوكلاء، وكان لكل منهم عقد مستقل؛ فإن له الانفراد فيما وكل فيه إلا أن يشترط عليهم الموكل عدم الانفراد.
2- إذا تعدد الوكلاء، وعينوا جميعًا في عقد واحد دون أن يأذن الموكل في انفراد أي منهم بالتصرف؛ كان عليهم أن يعملوا مجتمعين.
3- إذا تعدد الوكلاء، كانوا مسؤولين بالتضامن متى كانت الوكالة غير قابلة للانقسام، أو كان الضرر الذي أصاب الموكل نتيجة خطأ مشترك، ولا يكون الوكلاء ولو كانوا متضامنين مسؤولين عما فعله أحدهم مجاوزًا حدود الوكالة أو متعسفًا في تنفيذها.
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 488 explained in plain English
This article deals with the appointment of more than one agent and sets out three rules:
- Separate contracts: If each agent has a separate contract, each may act alone in what he was authorized to do, unless the principal stipulates that they may not act alone.
- One contract: If all the agents are appointed in a single contract and the principal has not allowed any of them to act alone, they must act together.
- Liability: Multiple agents are jointly liable in two cases: where the agency is indivisible, or where the harm to the principal results from a shared fault. Even when jointly liable, however, agents are not answerable for what one of them did by exceeding the limits of the agency or by abusing it in carrying it out.
A principal who wants agents with separate contracts to act together must stipulate that. A principal who appoints them in one contract and wants each to act alone must expressly allow it.
The article is linked to Article 487, which sets the care required of an agent, and to Article 489, which regulates an agent appointing another agent. To draft an agency with multiple agents or to assess liability among them, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in civil matters.
Practical example
Hind appointed her two brothers in one contract to sell land of hers in Al-Qassim, and did not allow either of them to act alone. If one of them sells the land alone, he has not complied with the article's requirement to act together. Had she appointed each of them by a separate contract, each could have acted alone unless she stipulated otherwise.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 488 of Civil Transactions Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Unwan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 488 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
May one of several agents act alone?
If each has a separate contract, he may act alone unless the principal stipulates otherwise. If they were appointed in one contract without permission to act alone, they must act together.
When are agents jointly liable?
When the agency is indivisible, or when the harm to the principal results from a shared fault.
Is an agent liable when a co-agent exceeds the limits of the agency?
Even if jointly liable, agents are not answerable for what one of them did by exceeding the limits of the agency or abusing it in carrying it out.
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.