Article 21 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
المادة 21 من النظام التجاري نظام المحكمة التجارية · الفصل الثالث: في الوكيل بالعمولة المعبر عنه بالقومسيون والأمناء المأمورين بنقل الأشياء برا وبحرا
The article requires every agent and trustee to record in the daybook the kind, quantity and prices of the goods ordered to be carried by land or sea.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على كل وكيل وأمين أن يقيد بدفتر اليومية جنس ومقدار وأثمان البضائع المأمور بنقلها بحرا أو برا.
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 21 explained in plain English
This article imposes a duty of recording on anyone who undertakes to carry goods for another. Every agent and trustee ordered to carry goods, whether the carriage is by land or by sea, must record in the daybook three items of information:
- The kind of the goods, that is, their type.
- Their quantity.
- Their prices.
The purpose of this duty is to create a record that can be consulted to know what the agent or trustee received, which is important when there is a dispute about the goods actually received.
This article connects to Article 22, which requires the agent and trustee to attach to the goods when sending them a consignment note, a statement that meets the requirements the law sets.
The article does not specify the form of the book or the consequence of not recording. If you are a merchant who relies on a carrier to ship your goods and a dispute arises over what was delivered, consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases.
Practical example
A merchant in Jeddah handed a carrier trustee 50 cartons of household items to carry to Medina. Under this article the trustee must record in his daybook the type of these items, the number of cartons and their prices.
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 21 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
What must a transport agent record?
The kind of goods ordered to be carried, their quantity and their prices, in the daybook.
Does the duty cover only sea carriage?
No. The article covers goods ordered to be carried by sea or by land.
More articles on Commission Agent and Carriage of Goods
- Article 18
The article defines the commission agent as a person who carries on trade on behalf of another, conducting his transactions in his own name or in the name of a company for the account of his principal.
الوكيل بالعمولة هو الذي يتعاطى التجارة بالوصاية والنيابة ويجري معاملاته باسمه أو بعنوان شركة ما لحساب موكله.
- Article 19
The article gives the commission agent the right to be paid first, out of the value of goods sent to him for sale, what he spent on them, subject to conditions regarding their whereabouts.
كل وكيل بعمولة له الحق أن يتقدم في استيفاء جميع ما صرفه على أمتعة مرسلة له من محل آخر برسم البيع لحساب موكله من نفس قيمتها إذا كانت موجودة لديه أو مودعة في مخزن
- Article 20
The article makes the agent liable for any damage if he transfers the carriage of goods to another without the original merchant's permission, and he is not liable if the transfer is by the merchant or with his permission.
إذا حول الوكيل أمر نقل البضاعة والأشياء المسلمة أو المرسلة له إلى غيره بغير إذن التاجر الأصلي يضمن كل ضرر يحصل بسبب ذلك. أما إذا كان التحويل إلى الوكيل الآخر من
- Article 22
The article requires the agent and trustee to attach a consignment note to the goods when sending them, that is, a statement that meets the specified requirements.
يجب على الوكيل والأمين حين إرسال البضاعة أن يرفق بها قائمة الإرسالية ؛ أي كشفا مستوفيا للشرائط الآتية
- Article 23
The article sets the details that must appear in the consignment note, from the description of goods and the delivery time limit and the parties' names to the fee, compensation and signature.
يوضح في قائمة الإرسالية مقدار وجنس البضائع المنقولة ونوع الطرود ومهلة إيصالها مع بيان اسم وشهرة الوكيل والأمين المتعهد بنقلها والمكارى ، واسم وشهرة من تسلم إليه
- Article 24
The article binds the agent, trustee and carrier to ensure delivery of goods within the time limit set in the consignment note, and they are liable for damage from delay unless the obstacle was a force majeure.
تلزم الوكيل والأمين والمكارى ضمانة إيصال البضائع المسلمة إليه في داخل المهلة المعينة في قائمة الإرسالية فكل ضرر ينشأ من تأخيره يضمنه ما لم يكن المانع قاهرا يعجز
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.