Article 244 of the Saudi Companies Law
المادة 244 من نظام الشركات · الباب الثاني عشر: انقضاء الشركة وتصفيتها
The article provides that an ended company enters liquidation while keeping its legal personality as far as needed, requires a statement on the sufficiency of assets, and refers a company unable to pay its debts to the Bankruptcy Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تدخل الشركة إذا انقضت دور التصفية وفقًا لأحكام النظام، ويجب على الشركاء أو الجمعية العامة أو المساهمين اتخاذ إجراءات التصفية، وتحتفظ الشركة بالشخصية الاعتبارية بالقدر اللازم للتصفية.
2- إذا انقضت الشركة لأي من أسباب الانقضاء المنصوص عليها في النظام، وجب على الشركاء أو المساهمين أو مديري الشركة أو مجلس إدارتها -بحسب الأحوال- إعداد البيان المشار إليه في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الثانية والأربعين بعد المائتين) من النظام، ما لم يكن معدًّا قبل انقضائها ولم تتجاوز المدة من تاريخ إعداده (ثلاثين) يومًا.
3- إذا انقضت الشركة وكانت أصولها لا تكفي لسداد ديونها أو كانت متعثرة وفقًا لنظام الإفلاس، وجب عليها التقدم إلى الجهة القضائية المختصة لافتتاح أي من إجراءات التصفية وفقًا لنظام الإفلاس.
4- إذا صُفيت الشركة بالمخالفة لحكم هذه المادة، كان الشركاء أو المساهمون أو مدير الشركة أو أعضاء مجلس إدارتها -بحسب الأحوال- مسؤولين بالتضامن عن أي دين متبقّ في ذمتها.
5- لا يجوز تصفية الشركة غير الربحية العامة إلا بعد الحصول على موافقة الوزارة.
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 244 explained in plain English
This article regulates what happens after a company ends for any of the grounds in Article 243 or the other grounds for ending in the Law.
- Entering liquidation: The ended company enters liquidation in accordance with the provisions of the Law, and the partners, the general assembly or the shareholders must take its procedures. The company keeps its legal personality to the extent needed for liquidation only.
- Statement on the sufficiency of assets: The partners, shareholders, managers or board, as the case may be, must prepare the statement referred to in paragraph (1) of Article 242, unless it was prepared before the ending and 30 days have not passed since its preparation.
- A company unable to pay: If the ended company's assets do not suffice to pay its debts or it is in financial distress under the Bankruptcy Law, it must apply to the competent judicial authority to open one of the liquidation procedures under the Bankruptcy Law, rather than ordinary liquidation.
- Penalty for violation: If the company is liquidated in violation of this article, the partners, shareholders, manager or board members, as the case may be, are jointly liable for any remaining debt owed by it.
- A public non-profit company: It may be liquidated only after obtaining the approval of the Ministry.
As for the liquidation itself, Article 245 states that it is carried out as the articles of association or bylaws provide, or as the partners, the general assembly or the shareholders agree, and if there is no such provision, in accordance with the provisions of the Law.
To determine the correct route for liquidating a particular company, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial matters and companies.
Practical example
The term of a commercial company in Riyadh expired and the company ended. Its manager prepared the statement on the sufficiency of assets, and it appeared that its debts exceed its assets. Here the company is not liquidated by ordinary liquidation; it must apply to the competent judicial authority to open a liquidation procedure under the Bankruptcy Law, otherwise the partners or the manager, as the case may be, become jointly liable for the remaining debts.
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 244 of the Saudi Companies Law
Does a company keep its legal personality after it ends?
Yes. The company keeps its legal personality to the extent needed for liquidation.
What must an ended company do if its debts exceed its assets?
It must apply to the competent judicial authority to open one of the liquidation procedures under the Bankruptcy Law.
What is the penalty for liquidating a company in violation of this article?
The partners, shareholders, manager or board members, as the case may be, are jointly liable for any remaining debt owed by it.
Does liquidating a public non-profit company need approval?
Yes. It may be liquidated only after obtaining the approval of the Ministry.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Company Liquidation
- Article 12
The article requires a company's contracts, receipts and documents to show its name, form, address, e-mail and register number, its capital and the paid-up part, and the words "under liquidation" during liquidation.
يجب أن يوضع على العقود والمخالصات وغيرها من الوثائق التي تصدرها الشركة البيانات الآتية: أ- اسم الشركة وشكلها وعنوان مركزها الرئيس وبريدها الإلكتروني -إن وجد- ور
- Article 33
Article 33 allows a partner's or shareholder's personal creditor to ask the competent judicial body to collect from the debtor's share of net distributed profits, and then from their share of the surplus on liquidation.
للدائن الشخصي للشريك أو المساهم أن يطلب من الجهة القضائية المختصة أن يتقاضى حقه من نصيب الشريك أو المساهم المدين في صافي الأرباح الموزعة. فإذا انقضت الشركة انتق
- Article 46
Article 46 regulates a partner's withdrawal from a general partnership on 60 days' notice, their removal under the contract or by court request, registering it with the commercial register, and judicial dissolution of the company.
1- ما لم ينص عقد تأسيس الشركة على غير ذلك، للشريك الانسحاب من الشركة بإرادته المنفردة بشرط إبلاغ باقي الشركاء بذلك قبل (ستين) يومًا على الأقل من التاريخ الذي حد
- Article 50
Article 50 provides that a general partnership does not end on a partner's death, interdiction, bankruptcy, or exit unless the contract says so, and regulates continuing with heirs and minors and the case of one remaining partner.
1- لا تنقضي شركة التضامن بوفاة أي من الشركاء، ولا بالحجر عليه، ولا بافتتاح أي من إجراءات التصفية تجاهه وفقًا لنظام الإفلاس، ولا بإخراجه، ولا بانسحابه، ما لم ينص
- Article 57
Article 57 provides that a simple limited partnership does not end on a limited partner's death, interdiction, insolvency, bankruptcy, or withdrawal unless the formation contract so provides.
لا تنقضي شركة التوصية البسيطة بوفاة أي من الشركاء الموصين، ولا بالحجر عليه، ولا بإعساره، ولا بافتتاح أي من إجراءات التصفية تجاهه وفقًا لنظام الإفلاس، ولا بانسحا
- Article 132
If losses reach half of the issued capital, the board of a joint-stock company must disclose this within 60 days and call the extraordinary general assembly within 180 days to decide whether to continue or dissolve.
إذا بلغت خسائر شركة المساهمة (نصف) رأس المال المصدر، وجب على مجلس الإدارة الإفصاح عن ذلك وعما توصل إليه من توصيات بشأن تلك الخسائر خلال (ستين) يومًا من تاريخ عل
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.

