Article 87 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 87 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثالث: النيابة في التعاقد
The article permits contracting through representation unless statutory texts require otherwise, and divides representation into agreed, judicial and statutory.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يصح التعاقد بالنيابة؛ ما لم تقتض النصوص النظامية خلاف ذلك.
2- تكون النيابة في التعاقد اتفاقيةً أو قضائيةً أو نظاميةً.
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 87 explained in plain English
This article opens the rules on representation in contracting, where one person (the representative) contracts on behalf of another (the principal).
Paragraph 1: permissibility of contracting through representation
The rule is that contracting through representation is valid; a person need not always conclude his contracts himself. The exception is where statutory texts require otherwise, as there may be texts that prohibit representation in particular transactions, and the article does not specify these cases but refers to statutory texts.
Paragraph 2: sources of representation
Representation in contracting is of three kinds according to its source:
- Agreed: arises by agreement between the principal and the representative.
- Judicial: arises by court judgment.
- Statutory: arises by a statutory text.
Whatever the source of the representation, Article 88 provides that the representative may not exceed the limits of his representation as set in the instrument creating it, whether that instrument is a contract, a court judgment or a statutory text. The instrument of representation is what determines the scope of what the representative may do.
This article is useful to anyone who needs another person to contract on his behalf, or who deals with a person claiming to contract on behalf of another. In important cases it is advisable to verify the instrument of representation and, where needed, to consult a lawyer who specializes in civil cases and contracts.
Practical example
Abdullah lives outside the Kingdom and wants to buy land in Medina, so he agreed with his brother that he would contract on his behalf. This is agreed representation, and contracting through it is valid unless a statutory text requires otherwise.
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 87 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
May a person sign a contract on behalf of another?
Yes. Contracting through representation is valid unless statutory texts require otherwise.
What are the kinds of representation in contracting?
Representation is agreed, judicial or statutory.
Can the representative exceed the limits of his representation?
Article 88 provides that the representative may not exceed the limits of his representation as set in the instrument creating it.
More articles on Effects and Interpretation of Contracts
- 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 40
In adhesion contracts, acceptance is limited to mere submission to fixed terms set by the offeror that are not open to discussion.
القبول في عقود الإذعان يقتصر على مجرد التسليم بشروط مقررة يضعها الموجب ولا يقبل مناقشة فيها.
- Article 45
A framework agreement is a contract in which the parties set the basic terms of the contracts they create between them under its provisions, and it is treated as part of those contracts.
الاتفاق الإطاري عقدٌ يُحدد المتعاقدان بمقتضاه البنود الأساسية التي تخضع لها العقود التي ينشئها المتعاقدان بينهما وفقًا لأحكام هذا الاتفاق، ويُعد ذلك الاتفاق جزء
- Article 46
If the contracting parties, expressly or impliedly, refer in the contract to a model document, specified rules or any other document, it is treated as part of the contract.
إذا أحال المتعاقدان صراحةً أو ضمنًا في العقد إلى أحكام وثيقةٍ نموذجيَّةٍ أو قواعد محددة أو أي وثيقة أخرى عُدَّت جزءًا من العقد.
- Article 73
If the parties do not specify the quantity of the subject matter and the contract contains what allows it to be determined, the court determines it; if they do not agree on quality and there is no custom or indication, an item of medium quality must be delivered.
1- إذا لم يحدِّد المتعاقدان مقدار المحل وتضمن العقد ما يمكن للمحكمة تحديده به؛ حددته بناءً على ذلك. 2- إذا لم يتفق المتعاقدان على درجة جودة الشيء ولم يوجد عرف أ
- 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.
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.