Article 96 of the Saudi Commercial Papers Law
المادة 96 من نظام الأوراق التجارية · الفصل الأول: إنشاء الشيك
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 يكون الشيك مستحق الوفاء لحامله.
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 96 explained in plain English
This Article deals with three forms relating to the parties to a check:
- Drawing a check to the drawer's own order: permitted, meaning the drawer is himself the beneficiary of the check.
- Drawing a check for the account of another person: permitted, meaning the drawer draws the check for another's account.
- Drawing a check on the drawer himself: not permitted as a rule, meaning the drawer being himself the drawee obliged to pay.
The last prohibition has one exception, subject to two conditions stated in the text:
- The check is drawn between branches of a bank controlled by one head office.
- The check is not payable to bearer.
This Article is linked to Article 95, which explains to whom payment of a check may be stipulated, and to Article 97, which makes the drawer guarantor of payment.
Anyone who needs to verify the validity of a check drawn between the branches of a bank or for the account of another person may consult a lawyer who specializes in banking and commercial papers.
Practical example
A bank branch in Jeddah wanted to draw a check on its branch in Riyadh in favor of a named customer. This is permitted under the Article because both branches belong to one head office, provided the check is not payable to bearer.
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 96 of the Saudi Commercial Papers Law
May I write a check to myself?
Yes. The Article allows a check to be drawn to the order of the drawer himself.
May a check be drawn on the drawer himself?
No, unless it is drawn between branches of a bank controlled by one head office and the check is not payable to bearer.
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 97
The Article makes the drawer of a check guarantor of its payment, and treats any clause by which the drawer exempts himself from this guarantee as if it had not been written.
يضمن الساحب وفاء الشيك، وكل شرط يعفي الساحب نفسه من هذا الضمان يعتبر كأن لم يكن.
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.