Article 697 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 697 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثاني: حق الاستعمال وحق السكنى
The rules of the right of usufruct apply to the right of use and the right of residence insofar as they do not conflict with the rules and nature of those two rights.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تسري أحكام حق الانتفاع على حق الاستعمال وحق السكنى فيما لا يتعارض مع أحكام هذين الحقين وطبيعتهما.
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 697 explained in plain English
This Article fills any gap in the regulation of the right of use and the right of residence by providing that the rules of the right of usufruct apply to them. The reason is that these two rights are limited forms of the right of usufruct.
This application is not absolute, however; it is subject to a condition: the rules of usufruct must not conflict with:
- the special rules on the right of use and the right of residence, or
- the nature of these two rights.
If there is a special rule on the right of use or residence, it takes precedence over the general rule on usufruct. One such special rule is the one in Article 696, that the right of use or the right of residence may not be assigned to another unless an express condition in the instrument creating the right allows it, or out of necessity; this restriction applies to them even if the usufruct rule is different.
On other matters for which no special rules exist, the rules of usufruct are consulted, taking the nature of the two rights into account. After this Article, the Law turns in Article 698 to the right of waqf (endowment), referring it to the special legal provisions that govern it.
Whether a particular usufruct rule conflicts with the nature of the right of residence in a given case is a matter of discretion, on which it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in real estate and civil matters.
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 697 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Do the rules of usufruct apply to the right of residence?
Yes, they apply insofar as they do not conflict with the rules and nature of the right of residence.
What if a usufruct rule conflicts with a special rule on the right of residence?
The usufruct rule does not apply in that case, because the Article limits its application to what does not conflict with the rules and nature of the two rights.
What is an example of a special rule on the right of residence?
Article 696 prohibits assigning the right of use or right of residence to another unless an express condition in the instrument creating the right allows it, or out of necessity.
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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.