Article 17 of the Saudi Electronic Transactions Law
المادة 17 من نظام التعاملات الإلكترونية · الفصل السادس: المركز الوطني للتصديق الرقمي
The National Center for Digital Certification is competent to approve digital certification certificates issued by foreign bodies, which are treated like their domestic counterparts in accordance with the Regulations' controls and procedures.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يختص المركز باعتماد شهادات التصديق الرقمي الصادرة من الجهات الأجنبية خارج المملكة وتعامل هذه الشهادات معاملة نظيراتها بداخل المملكة، وذلك وفقا للضوابط والإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article deals with the status of foreign digital certification certificates, that is, certificates issued by bodies outside the Kingdom, an important matter in international trade and dealing with foreign partners.
The rule:
- Competent body: the National Center for Digital Certification (established by Article 16) is competent to approve these certificates.
- Effect of approval: foreign certificates are treated like their counterparts inside the Kingdom.
- Controls: this is done in accordance with the controls and procedures set by the Implementing Regulations; the article does not state these controls.
The wording of the article indicates that equal treatment is tied to the Center's approval of these certificates in accordance with the Regulations' controls. A digital certification certificate, according to Article 1, is an electronic document that confirms the identity of the holder of an electronic signature system and contains the data for verifying their signature.
This article is among the provisions on the Center that follow Article 16, and it is followed by the regulation of the certification services provider's duties in Article 18.
Anyone dealing with electronic signatures issued under foreign certificates would do well to check their approval status with the Center, or to consult a lawyer specializing in electronic transactions and foreign investment.
Practical example
A Saudi company in Jeddah signs a supply contract with a European company, and the European company's representative signs electronically using a digital certificate issued in his country. For this certificate to be treated like certificates issued inside the Kingdom, it must be approved by the National Center for Digital Certification in accordance with the Regulations' controls.
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 17 of the Saudi Electronic Transactions Law
Are foreign digital certificates accepted in Saudi Arabia?
The National Center for Digital Certification is competent to approve them, and they are treated like their counterparts inside the Kingdom in accordance with the controls and procedures set by the Regulations.
Who approves foreign certification certificates?
The National Center for Digital Certification.
Where can I find the controls for approving foreign certificates?
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations to set the controls and procedures for approval.
More articles on Certification Services and Digital Certificates
- Article 15
The article divides oversight of the Law: the Ministry sets policies and plans and represents the Kingdom; the Authority applies the Law, licenses and monitors certification services providers, and sets the fee with the Minister's approval.
يتم الإشراف على تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام وفقا للآتي: 1 - تقوم الوزارة بوضع السياسات العامة ورسم الخطط والبرامج التطويرية للتعاملات والتواقيع الإلكترونية ، ورفع مش
- Article 16
The article establishes a National Center for Digital Certification in the Ministry to oversee the tasks of issuing and managing digital certification certificates, and refers the details of its seat, composition and competences to the Regulations.
1- ينشأ في الوزارة - بموجب هذا النظام - مركز وطني للتصديق الرقمي، يتولى الإشراف على المهمات المتعلقة بإصدار شهادات التصديق الرقمي وإداراتها. 2- تحدد اللائحة الق
- Article 18
The article lists eight obligations of a certification services provider, including prior licensing, issuing and protecting certificates, an accessible database, confidentiality, and handing documents to the Authority when its activity stops.
يجب على مقدم خدمات التصديق الالتزام بما يأتي: 1 - الحصول على الترخيص اللازم من الهيئة قبل البدء في ممارسة نشاطه. 2 - إصدار شهادات التصديق الرقمي ، وتسليمها وحفظ
- Article 19
A certification services provider may not stop its licensed activity, assign its license or merge into another entity without the Authority's prior written approval, in accordance with the Regulations' procedures.
لا يجوز لمقدم خدمات التصديق التوقف عن مزاولة نشاطه المرخص به أو التنازل عن الترخيص الصادر له أو الاندماج في جهة أخرى إلا بعد الحصول على موافقة كتابية مسبقة من ا
- Article 20
A certification services provider guarantees the validity of the certified information in the certificate at the time of delivery and the validity of the link between the holder and their electronic data, and is liable for harm to anyone who relied on it in good faith.
يتحمل مقدم خدمات التصديق مسؤولية ضمان صحة المعلومات المصدقة التي تضمنتها الشهادة وقت تسليمها وصحة العلاقة بين صاحب الشهادة وبياناتها الإلكترونية، وتقع عليه مسؤو
- Article 21
A certification services provider must revoke or suspend a certificate at its holder's request or in the cases the Regulations set, notify the holder immediately and lift the measure when its cause ends, and is liable for harm to good-faith persons.
يجب على مقدم خدمات التصديق إلغاء الشهادة أو إيقاف العمل بها عند طلب صاحبها ذلك أو في الحالات التي تحددها اللائحة. كما يجب عليه إبلاغ صاحب الشهادة فورا بالإلغاء
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.