Article 71 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 71 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الأول: أركان العقد أولًا: الرضى
The article allows the subject matter of an obligation to be a future thing specified by type and quantity, and prohibits dealing in the estate of a living person even with his consent, except as statutory texts permit.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يصح أن يكون محل الالتزام شيئًا مستقبلًا معيَّنًا بنوعه ومقداره، وفيما عدا الأحوال التي تجيزها النصوص النظامية لا يصح أن تكون تركة شخص على قيد الحياة محلًّا للتعامل ولو كان قد صدر منه أو برضاه.
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 71 explained in plain English
This article contains two related rules on the subject matter of an obligation:
First: validity of dealing in a future thing
The subject matter of an obligation may be a future thing, that is, one that does not exist at the time of contracting but will exist later, provided it is specified by its type and quantity. It is not enough for the thing to be future only; its type and quantity must be determined in a way that prevents uncertainty.
Second: prohibition of dealing in the estate of a living person
The estate of a living person may not be the subject of a dealing; that is, it is not permitted to sell, waive or otherwise dispose of an expected share in the inheritance of a person who is still alive. The prohibition includes the case where the dealing is made by the owner of the estate himself or with his consent; his consent does not make such a dealing valid.
This prohibition is subject to an exception for cases permitted by statutory texts; the article does not specify these cases, but refers to statutory texts.
This article is among the rules on the subject matter of an obligation: Article 70 provides that the subject matter may be the transfer of a real right, an act, or refraining from an act, and Article 72 sets general conditions for the subject matter, including that it be possible in itself, not contrary to public order, and specified or capable of being specified, and the contract is void if these conditions are not met.
A person who wants to contract over something that does not yet exist or to deal in expected inheritance rights is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in civil cases and contracts.
Practical example
A farmer in Qassim agreed with a merchant to sell him 500 kilograms of Sukkari dates from next season's crop. This is a valid dealing in a future thing specified by its type and quantity. But if Sami agreed with his brother to sell him his expected share of the inheritance of their father while he is still alive, that is a dealing in the estate of a living person and is 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 71 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Can I sell something that does not exist at the time of the contract?
Yes. The subject matter of an obligation may be a future thing provided it is specified by its type and quantity.
Can I sell my share of an inheritance before the deceased dies?
No. The estate of a living person may not be the subject of a dealing, except in cases permitted by statutory texts.
Is dealing in an estate valid if its owner agrees?
No. The article provides that it is not valid even if the dealing is made by him or with his consent.
More articles on Elements of the Contract
- Article 11
The article allows a chosen domicile to be adopted for a particular act, serving as the domicile for everything relating to it unless expressly limited, and requires writing to prove it.
1- يجوز اتخاذ موطنٍ مختارٍ لعملٍ معيَّن، ويكون هو الموطن لكل ما يتعلق بهذا العمل؛ ما لم يُشترط صراحةً قصر هذا الموطن على أعمالٍ دون أخرى. 2- لا يجوز إثبات وجود
- Article 30
The article provides that the rules of the contract chapter apply to named and unnamed contracts, without prejudice to the legal provisions that regulate contracts of a special nature.
تطبق الأحكام الواردة في هذا الفصل على العقود المسماة وغير المسماة، وذلك دون إخلال بالأحكام الواردة في النصوص النظامية التي تنظم عقودًا ذات طبيعة خاصة.
- Article 31
A contract arises when one party's offer is joined to the other's acceptance to produce a legal effect, subject to the particular forms the legal provisions set for the formation of certain contracts.
ينشأ العقد بارتباط الإيجاب بالقبول لإحداث أثر نظامي، مع مراعاة ما تقرره النصوص النظامية من أوضاعٍ معيّنةٍ لانعقاد العقد.
- Article 32
Consent in a contract is achieved when the wills of two or more contracting parties who have capacity to contract coincide and the will is expressed by what indicates it.
يتحقق الرضى إذا توافقت إرادتا متعاقدين (أو أكثر) لديهما أهلية التعاقد وعُبِّر عن الإرادة بما يدل عليها.
- Article 33
Offer and acceptance may be by anything that indicates the will: words, writing, an understood gesture or mutual exchange, explicit or implicit, unless the legal provisions, the agreement or the nature of the transaction require otherwise.
1- يكون الإيجاب والقبول بكل ما يدل على الإرادة. 2- يجوز أن يكون التعبير عن الإرادة باللفظ أو بالكتابة أو بالإشارة المفهومة أو بالمعاطاة، وأن يكون صريحًا أو ضمني
- Article 34
Displaying goods and services with their price stated is an offer, and an advertisement with the prevailing prices is not an offer, unless there are indications to the contrary in either case.
1- يعد عرض البضائع والخدمات مع بيان ثمنها إيجابًا، إلا إذا قامت دلائل تفيد خلاف ذلك. 2- لا يعدُّ الإعلان مع بيان الأسعار المتعامل بها إيجابًا، إلا إذا قامت دلائ
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.