Article 13 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
المادة 13 من نظام التجارة الإلكترونية
The article gives a consumer the right to cancel the contract within 7 days of receiving the product or contracting for the service, if unused, bearing the costs unless agreed otherwise, with specific exceptions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- مع عدم الإخلال بأحكام الضمان الاتفاقية والنظامية، للمستهلك -في غير الحالات المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة- فسخ العقد خلال الأيام السبعة التالية لتاريخ تسلمه المنتج أو لتاريخ التعاقد على تقديم الخدمة، ما دام أنه لم يستخدم منتج موفر الخدمة أو لم يستفد من خدمته أو لم يحصل على منفعة من أيّ منهما، وفي هذه الحالة يتحمل المستهلك التكاليف المترتبة على فسخ العقد إلا إذا اتفق أطراف العقد على غير ذلك.
2- لا يحق للمستهلك فسخ العقد بموجب الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة في الحالات الآتية:
أ- إذا كان محل العقد منتجات مصنعة بناء على طلب المستهلك أو وفقاً لمواصفات حددها، ويستثنى من ذلك المنتجات التي بها عيب أو غير المطابقة للمواصفات المتفق عليها.
ب- إذا كان محل العقد أشرطة فيديو أو أسطوانات أو أقراصاً مدمجة أو برامج معلوماتية جرى استخدامها.
ج- إذا كان العقد يتناول شراء صحف أو مجلات أو منشورات أو كتب.
د- إذا ظهر عيب في المنتج بسبب سوء حيازة المستهلك.
هـ- إذا كان العقد يتناول تقديم خدمات إيواء أو نقل أو إطعام.
و- إذا كان العقد يتناول شراء منتجات تحميل البرامج عبر الإنترنت، ويستثنى من ذلك البرامج التي بها عيب يحول دون إتمام التحميل أو غير المطابقة لما اتفق عليه.
ز- الحالات الأخرى التي تحددها اللائحة وفق ما تستدعيه طبيعة المنتجات أو الخدمات.
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 13 explained in plain English
This is one of the law's most important articles for consumers, because it sets out the right to back out of a purchase without having to give a reason, subject to specific conditions.
The rule (paragraph 1): A consumer may cancel the contract within the seven days following the date of receiving the product, or the date of contracting for the provision of the service, provided the consumer has not used the product, benefited from the service, or obtained a benefit from either. In that case, the consumer bears the costs of cancellation, unless the parties agree otherwise. This right does not affect the contractual and statutory warranty provisions.
The exceptions (paragraph 2): Cancellation under paragraph 1 is not available in the following cases:
- Products made to the consumer's order or to specifications the consumer set, unless they are defective or do not match the agreed specifications.
- Video tapes, discs, compact discs and software that have been used.
- The purchase of newspapers, magazines, publications or books.
- A defect that appears in the product because of the consumer's mishandling.
- Accommodation, transport or catering services.
- Software downloaded online, except software with a defect that prevents the download from being completed or that does not match what was agreed.
- Other cases specified by the Implementing Regulations according to the nature of the products or services.
This article is connected to Article 14, which gives the consumer another right of cancellation if the service provider is late in delivery or performance by more than 15 days from the date the contract was concluded, or beyond the agreed date.
Anyone facing a refusal of a return request who needs to assess their position can consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases.
Practical example
Hind bought a pair of shoes from an online store in Riyadh and received them on Sunday. She found they did not suit her taste, without having worn them. She may cancel the contract within the seven days following receipt as long as she has not used them, and she bears the costs of the cancellation unless she agrees otherwise with the store. If she had bought a book instead, she would have no right to cancel under this article.
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 13 of the Saudi E-Commerce Law
How long do I have to return a product bought from an online store?
A consumer may cancel the contract within the seven days following receipt of the product or contracting for the service, as long as the consumer has not used or benefited from it.
Who pays the cost of returning a product?
The consumer bears the costs of the cancellation, unless the parties to the contract agree otherwise.
Which products cannot be returned?
These include products made to the consumer's order unless defective or non-conforming, books, newspapers and magazines, accommodation, transport and catering services, software downloaded online unless defective or non-conforming, and whatever the Implementing Regulations specify.
Does the right to return cancel the warranty?
No. The article grants this right without prejudice to the contractual and statutory warranty provisions.
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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.