Article 11 of the Saudi Commercial Books Law
المادة 11 من نظام الدفاتر التجارية
The article assigns the detection of violations of the Commercial Books Law and the decisions issued to implement it to employees appointed by decision of the Minister of Commerce.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يتولى ضبط ما يقع من مخالفات لأحكام هذا النظام والقرارات الصادرة تنفيذا له موظفون يصدر بتعيينهم قرار من وزير التجارة.
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 11 explained in plain English
This article specifies the body responsible for detecting violations, that is, discovering and recording them, without dealing with the penalty itself.
What is detected?
- Violations of the provisions of the Commercial Books Law, such as failing to keep the required books or to preserve them.
- Violations of the decisions issued to implement the Law.
Who carries out detection? Employees appointed by a decision of the Minister of Commerce. Not just any person or body may do so; it is limited to those whom the Minister appoints by decision.
The article does not state these employees' powers, how they work or the detection procedures; these details do not appear in its text and should not be assumed.
This article is part of a connected scheme:
- Article 11 (this article): detecting violations.
- Article 12: the penalty, which is a fine of not less than SAR 5,000 and not more than SAR 50,000.
- Article 13: the jurisdiction of the Board of Grievances to impose penalties.
Article 10, by contrast, concerns the role of the judicial authority in disputes between litigants, which is different from detecting violations.
If a violation relating to commercial books has been recorded against your establishment, it is best to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial and company cases.
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 11 of the Saudi Commercial Books Law
Who detects violations of the Commercial Books Law?
Employees appointed by decision of the Minister of Commerce.
Does detection cover violations of implementing decisions?
Yes. The article covers violations of the provisions of the Law and of the decisions issued to implement it.
What is the penalty for violating the Commercial Books Law?
This article does not set the penalty; it is provided for in Article 12.
More articles on Violations of the Commercial Books Law
- Article 12
The article punishes every violation of the Commercial Books Law, or of the regulations and decisions issued to implement it, with a fine of not less than SAR 5,000 and not more than SAR 50,000.
كل مخالفة لأحكام هذا النظام أو اللوائح والقرارات الصادرة تنفيذا له يعاقب مرتكبها بغرامة لا تقل عن خمسة آلاف ريال ولا تزيد على خمسين ألف ريال.
- Article 13
The article makes the Board of Grievances the body with jurisdiction to impose the penalties provided for in the Commercial Books Law.
يختص ديوان المظالم بتوقيع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام.
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.