Article 32 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
المادة 32 من النظام التجاري نظام المحكمة التجارية · الفصل الرابع: في الدلالين المعبر عنهم بالسماسرة
The article requires a broker dealing in commercial goods between merchants to keep a daybook in which he records his work daily with specified details and with no blanks or erasures.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على كل دلال يتعاطى الدلالة في البضائع التجارية بين التجار أن يتخذ له دفتر يومية يقيد فيه أعماله بعد إتمامه يوما فيوما بصورة واضحة مع بيان اسم البائع والمشتري وتاريخ العقد ووقت تسليم البضاعة ومقدارها وجنسها ومقدار ثمنها مع بيان جميع شروط العمل بيانا صحيحا من غير تخلل بياض في الدفتر ولا حصول شطب ولا وضع كلمة فوق أخرى ولا كتابة بين السطور.
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 32 explained in plain English
This article imposes a duty of recording on every broker who practices brokerage in commercial goods between merchants. He must keep a daybook in which he records his work after completing it day by day in a clear manner, stating:
- The name of the seller and the name of the buyer.
- The date of the contract.
- The time of delivery of the goods.
- The quantity and kind of the goods.
- The amount of their price.
- All the terms of the work, accurately stated.
The article also requires the book to be sound in form, so it is not permitted to:
- Leave a blank in the book.
- Make an erasure.
- Write one word over another.
- Write between the lines.
The purpose of these conditions is for the book to be reliable and hard to tamper with. For this reason Article 33 requires brokers to present their books with explanations if the court requests them, without any right to refuse. Note that the duty in this article concerns brokerage in commercial goods between merchants, as the text says.
If you practice commercial brokerage or rely on a broker's book to prove a deal, consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases.
Practical example
A broker in Jeddah mediated today in the sale of 200 bags of sugar between two merchants. He must record in his daybook the names of the seller and buyer, the date of the contract, the delivery time, the quantity, kind, price and terms, without leaving a gap or making an erasure.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 32 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
Must a broker record his deals?
Yes. Every broker who practices brokerage in commercial goods between merchants must keep a daybook in which he records his work day by day.
What details does the broker record?
The names of the seller and buyer, the date of the contract, the delivery time, the quantity and kind of the goods, their price, and all the terms of the work.
May erasures be made in a broker's book?
No. The text prohibits blanks, erasures, writing one word over another and writing between the lines.
More articles on Brokers and Money Changers
- Article 30
The article defines the broker (dallal) as a person who mediates between seller and buyer to complete the sale for a fee.
الدلال : هو من يتوسط بين البائع والمشتري لإتمام البيع بأجرة.
- Article 31
The article refers the broker's rights, duties and fee to established custom and usage.
يتبع فيما للدلال من الحقوق وفيما عليه من الواجبات وفيما يستحقه من الأجرة العرف المطرد والعادة.
- Article 33
The article requires brokers to present their books with the necessary explanations if the Commercial Court requests them, with no right to refuse.
يجب على الدلالين أن يقدموا دفاترهم مع ما يلزم من الإيضاحات إذا طلبت منهم المحكمة التجارية وليس لهم حق الامتناع بوجه من الوجوه.
- Article 34
The article requires a broker, where goods are sold through him by sample, to keep the sample until the day of delivery, marked so as to prevent confusion.
إذا بيعت بضاعة بواسطة دلال على أنموذج - أي عينة معلومة - وجب عليه حفظها إلى يوم تسليم البضاعة مع التأشير عليها بما يلزم لمعرفتها بدون اشتباه.
- Article 35
The article defines the money changer (sarraf) as a person who practices the profession of exchanging currency, coins and banknotes.
الصراف : هو من يتعاطى مهنة تبديل العملة نقودا وأوراقا نقدية .
- Article 36
The article prevents any person from opening a shop or place for money changing unless he obtains a license from the Commercial Court.
لا يجوز لأي شخص أن يفتح دكانا أو محلا للصرافة ما لم يستحصل على رخصة من المحكمة التجارية .
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.