Article 103 of the Saudi Commercial Papers Law
المادة 103 من نظام الأوراق التجارية · الفصل الخامس: تقديم الشيك ووفاؤه
The Article requires a check drawn and payable in the Kingdom to be presented for payment within one month, and one drawn abroad and payable in the Kingdom within three months, from its stated date of issue.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
الشيك المسحوب في المملكة والمستحق الوفاء فيها يجب تقديمه للوفاء خلال شهر، فإذا كان مسحوبا خارج المملكة ومستحق الوفاء فيها وجب تقديمه خلال ثلاثة أشهر، وتبدأ المواعيد المذكورة من التاريخ المبين في الشيك أنه تاريخ إصداره. ويعتبر تقديم الشيك إلى إحدى غرف المقاصة المعترف بها بمثابة تقديم للوفاء.
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 103 explained in plain English
This Article sets the period for presenting a check for payment, the period within which the holder must present the check to the drawee:
- A check drawn in the Kingdom and payable there: must be presented within one month.
- A check drawn outside the Kingdom and payable there: must be presented within three months.
These periods run from the date stated in the check as its date of issue, not from the date it was handed to the beneficiary.
The Article treats presentment of a check to a recognized clearing house as presentment for payment, so depositing it for collection through clearing satisfies presentment within the period.
This Article is linked to Article 102, which makes a check payable on sight, and to Article 104 on the difference of calendars between the place of drawing and the place of payment.
Anyone who has missed the presentment period and wants to know the effect on their rights would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial matters and commercial papers.
Practical example
Sultan received a check from a company in Riyadh dated the first of the month and drawn on a bank in Riyadh. Under this Article, he must present it for payment within one month of the date written on it, and depositing it through a recognized clearing house counts as presentment for payment.
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 contentA question about Article 103 of Commercial Papers Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Commercial & 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
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
- Commercial & Corporate Law
Frequently asked questions about Article 103 of the Saudi Commercial Papers Law
How long is a check valid for in Saudi Arabia?
A check drawn in the Kingdom and payable there must be presented within one month, and one drawn outside the Kingdom and payable there within three months.
From when is the presentment period for a check counted?
From the date stated in the check as its date of issue.
Does depositing a check in a clearing house count as presenting it?
Yes. Presentment of a check to a recognized clearing house is treated as presentment for payment.
More articles on The Check
- Article 91
The Article lists the mandatory particulars of a check: the word check, an unconditional order to pay a fixed sum, the drawee's name, place of payment, date and place of issue, and the drawer's signature.
يشتمل الشيك على البيانات الآتية: أ - كلمة (شيك) مكتوبة في متن الصك باللغة التي كتب بها. ب - أمر غير معلق على شرط بوفاء مبلغ معين من النقود. جـ - اسم من يلزمه ال
- Article 92
The Article provides that an instrument lacking a check particular listed in Article 91 is not a check, unless the missing particular is the place of payment or the place of issue.
الصك الخالي من أحد البيانات المذكورة في المادة السابقة لا يعتبر شيكا إلا في الحالتين الآتيتين: أ - إذا خلا الشيك من بيان مكان وفائه اعتبر مستحق الوفاء في المكان
- Article 93
The Article requires checks issued in the Kingdom and payable there to be drawn on a bank, and treats instruments drawn on anyone other than a bank as invalid checks.
لا يجوز سحب الشيكات الصادرة في المملكة والمستحقة الوفاء فيها إلا على بنك، والصكوك المسحوبة في صورة شيكات على غير بنك لا تعتبر شيكات صحيحة.
- Article 94
The Article bars issuing a check unless the drawer has funds with the drawee that can be disposed of by check at the time of issue, and requires the drawer to prove cover if denied; lack of cover does not void the check.
لا يجوز إصدار شيك ما لم يكن للساحب لدى المسحوب عليه وقت إنشاء الشيك نقود يستطيع التصرف فيها بموجب شيك طبقا لاتفاق صريح أو ضمني. وعلى ساحب الشيك أو الآمر غيره بس
- Article 95
The Article allows a check to be payable to a named person with or without an order clause, to a named person with a not-to-order clause, or to bearer, and sets when a check counts as a bearer check.
يجوز اشتراط وفاء الشيك إلى: أ - شخص معين مع النص صراحة على شرط الأمر أو بدونه. ب - شخص معين مع ذكر شرط (ليس لأمر) أو أية عبارة أخرى تفيد هذا المعنى. جـ - حامل ا
- Article 96
The Article allows a check to be drawn to the drawer's own order or for another person's account, and bars drawing it on the drawer himself except between branches of one bank, provided it is not a bearer check.
يجوز سحب الشيك لأمر الساحب نفسه، ويجوز سحبه لحساب شخص آخر، ولا يجوز سحبه على الساحب نفسه ما لم يكن مسحوبا بين فروع بنك يسيطر عليه مركز رئيسي واحد ويشترط ألا يكو
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.