Article 581 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 581 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الأول: إنشاء عقد الكفالة
The article provides that suretyship is valid only if the obligation guaranteed is valid.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تكون الكفالة صحيحة إلا إذا كان الالتزام المكفول به صحيحًا.
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 581 explained in plain English
This article sets out a basic rule of suretyship, which is that suretyship is dependent on the obligation it guarantees. Suretyship is not valid unless the obligation guaranteed is valid.
In practice this means:
- If the original obligation on the debtor is valid, the suretyship can be valid where its other conditions are met.
- If the original obligation is not valid, the suretyship is not valid either, because it exists only on a valid obligation that it guarantees.
The surety guarantees an obligation on the debtor, so if there is no valid obligation on the debtor, there is no valid suretyship guaranteeing it.
This rule joins other conditions of suretyship, including what Article 580 provides, that the surety must have full capacity. Article 582 also sets out the forms suretyship may take, such as being immediate, conditional, for a limited period, or deferred to a term.
The text does not specify the grounds on which the original obligation may be invalid; these are known from other provisions of the Law. Anyone who believes that the debt he stood surety for is not valid is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in civil cases to assess his position.
Practical example
Ali stood surety for his friend for a debt arising from a contract, and it then turned out that this contract was not valid. Under the article, Ali's suretyship is not valid, because the obligation guaranteed was not valid.
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 581 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Is suretyship valid if the original debt is not valid?
No. Suretyship is not valid unless the obligation guaranteed is valid.
Is the surety's capacity enough for the suretyship to be valid?
No. Alongside the full capacity of the surety required by Article 580, the obligation guaranteed must be valid.
More articles on Suretyship
- Article 222
The Article provides that solidarity among debtors is not presumed and arises only by agreement or legal provision.
لا يكون التضامن بين المدينين إلا باتفاق أو بنص نظامي.
- Article 578
The article defines suretyship as a contract in which the surety undertakes to the creditor to perform an obligation owed by the debtor if the debtor himself does not perform it.
الكفالة عقدٌ يلتزم بمقتضاه الكفيل للدائن بأن يفي بالتزام على المدين إذا لم يَفِ به المدين نفسه.
- Article 579
Suretyship is concluded between the surety and the creditor, the creditor's silence counts as acceptance, and it does not depend on the debtor's acceptance, so it is valid without his knowledge and despite his objection.
1- تنعقد الكفالة بين الكفيل والدائن، ويعد سكوت الدائن إذا وجه إليه الإيجاب قبولًا للكفالة. 2- لا يتوقف انعقاد الكفالة على قبول المدين، وتجوز دون علمه، وتجوز أيض
- Article 580
The article requires the surety to have full capacity, limits a suretyship by a person on his deathbed to one third of the estate unless the heirs approve, and a suretyship to or for an heir takes effect only with their approval.
1- يجب في عقد الكفالة أن يكون الكفيل كامل الأهلية. 2- الكفالة من المريض مرض الموت لا تنفذ في حق الورثة فيما زاد على (ثلث) التركة إلا بإجازتهم، وإذا كانت الكفالة
- Article 582
The article allows suretyship to be immediate, conditional, for a limited period, or deferred to a term.
يصح أن تكون الكفالة منجزةً أو معلقةً على شرط أو مؤقتةً أو مضافةً إلى أجل.
- Article 583
Suretyship is valid for a future debt if the amount guaranteed is fixed in advance, and for a debt conditional on a condition; for a future debt with no fixed period the surety may withdraw by notifying the creditor.
1- تصح الكفالة في الدين المستقبل إذا حدد مقدمًا مقدار المكفول به، وتصح في الدين المعلق على شرط. 2- للكفيل في الدين المستقبل إذا لم يعين مدة للكفالة أن يرجع عن ك
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.