Article 24 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
المادة 24 من النظام التجاري نظام المحكمة التجارية · الفصل الثالث: في الوكيل بالعمولة المعبر عنه بالقومسيون والأمناء المأمورين بنقل الأشياء برا وبحرا
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 عن دفعه.
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 24 explained in plain English
This article establishes the carrier's liability for delay. The agent, trustee and carrier are bound to ensure delivery of the goods handed to them within the time limit set in the consignment note, which is the time limit that Article 23 requires to be stated in the note.
The rule as the text states it:
- The carrier is liable for any damage arising from the delay.
- An exception is where the obstacle was a force majeure that he was unable to prevent.
In principle the carrier is liable once he is late beyond the time limit if damage arises from the delay, and only a force majeure obstacle that he cannot prevent excuses him. The article does not specify how compensation is calculated, but Article 23 provides that the note must state "how the compensation due is to be made" if delivery is not made in the time limit, so one refers to what is written in it.
Article 25 then addresses the agent's and trustee's liability for things sent that are lost or damaged after reaching them. If your goods are late and you suffered damage, consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases to assess your claim.
Practical example
A merchant in Riyadh agreed with a carrier to deliver equipment for an exhibition in Jeddah within two days under the consignment note, and it arrived after the exhibition ended with no force majeure. Under this article the carrier is liable for the damage arising from his delay.
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 24 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
Is the carrier responsible for the goods arriving late?
Yes. He is bound to ensure delivery within the time limit set in the consignment note, and he is liable for any damage arising from his delay.
When is the carrier excused from liability for delay?
If the obstacle was a force majeure that he was unable to prevent.
How is compensation assessed?
The article does not set it, but under Article 23 the consignment note states how compensation is to be made if delivery is not within the time limit.
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 21
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.
يجب على كل وكيل وأمين أن يقيد بدفتر اليومية جنس ومقدار وأثمان البضائع المأمور بنقلها بحرا أو برا.
- 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
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.