Article 26 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
المادة 26 من النظام التجاري نظام المحكمة التجارية · الفصل الثالث: في الوكيل بالعمولة المعبر عنه بالقومسيون والأمناء المأمورين بنقل الأشياء برا وبحرا
The article makes the carrier liable for what is damaged through his transgression or negligence, and liable for the damage of perishable goods if their arrival is delayed beyond the customary period without a compelling reason.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يضمن المكارى كل ما يتلف من الأشياء المرسلة معه إذا كان بتعد منه أو إهمال وإلا فلا ضمان عليه، أما إذا كان التلف والضياع من مقتضى جنس الأشياء المرسلة معه كالخضروات والفواكه التي يتسارع إليها الفساد وتأخر وصولها عن المدة المعهودة لغير داع قاهر فيضمن وإلا فلا ضمان عليه.
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 26 explained in plain English
This article concerns the carrier (the haulier), that is, the transporter with whom items are sent, and sets out when he is liable for damage to them:
- The general rule: The carrier is liable for everything that is damaged of the items sent with him if the damage was through his transgression or negligence, otherwise he has no liability.
- Goods to which spoilage comes quickly by their nature, such as vegetables and fruit: If the damage or loss is due to the nature of their kind, the carrier is liable if their arrival is delayed beyond the customary period without a compelling reason, otherwise he has no liability.
In the second case, it is not required to prove transgression or negligence in the general sense; delay beyond the customary period without a compelling obstacle is enough, because delay is what makes these goods spoil. If they arrived within the customary period or the delay was for a compelling reason, the carrier is not liable for what spoiled by its nature.
This article connects to Article 25 on the liability of the agent and trustee, and Article 27 on the effect of receipt and payment of the fee on the claim. If your goods were damaged in transit, consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases.
Practical example
A farmer from Qassim sent a shipment of vegetables to Riyadh with a carrier, and the carrier stopped for a whole day for a personal matter, and the vegetables arrived spoiled. Under this article the carrier is liable for the damage because the delay beyond the customary period was without a compelling reason.
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 26 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
When is the carrier liable for damage to goods?
He is liable for what is damaged through his transgression or negligence, otherwise he has no liability.
What is the rule on damage to vegetables and fruit in transit?
If the damage is due to their nature and their arrival is delayed beyond the customary period without a compelling reason, the carrier is liable, otherwise he has no liability.
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.