Article 27 of the Saudi Electronic Transactions Law
المادة 27 من نظام التعاملات الإلكترونية · الفصل التاسع: المخالفات والعقوبات
Anyone harmed by violations of the Law, or by failure to comply with its controls and obligations, retains the right to bring a case before the competent judicial body to claim compensation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحتفظ الشخص الذي لحقه ضرر - ناتج من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام أو عدم التقيد بأي من الضوابط والالتزامات الواردة فيه - بحقه في رفع دعوى أمام الجهة القضائية المختصة بطلب تعويضه عن الأضرار التي لحقت به.
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 27 explained in plain English
This article protects the injured person's right to compensation, which is independent of the penalties that may be imposed on the violator.
Who benefits? A person who has suffered harm resulting from either of the following:
- the violations set out in the Law.
- failure to comply with any of the controls and obligations set out in it.
A person, according to Article 1, includes an individual and a public or private legal entity, so companies may also benefit from this provision.
What right is established? The injured person retains the right to bring a case before the competent judicial body claiming compensation for the harm they suffered.
What the article does not specify: it does not specify the amount of compensation, how it is assessed, or the judicial body by name, but refers to "the competent judicial body". The right is also limited to harm resulting from the violations or from failure to comply with the controls and obligations.
Anyone who believes they were harmed by an electronic transaction in breach of the Law would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in civil matters and compensation, or in electronic transactions, to assess their claim.
Practical example
A person used a forged electronic signature in the name of an establishment in Riyadh to conclude a purchase contract with a supplier, and the establishment suffered financial losses. The establishment is entitled to bring a case before the competent judicial body to claim compensation for the harm it suffered, in addition to any measures that may follow from the violation.
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 27 of the Saudi Electronic Transactions Law
Am I entitled to claim compensation if I was harmed by electronic forgery?
Yes. A person who suffered harm resulting from the violations set out in the Law retains the right to bring a case before the competent judicial body to claim compensation.
Does compensation cover harm from failure to comply with the controls, not only violations?
Yes. It covers harm resulting from failure to comply with any of the controls and obligations set out in the Law.
Where do I bring a compensation case?
Before the competent judicial body; the article does not name that body.
More articles on Electronic Forgery and Its Penalty
- Article 23
The article lists ten acts that violate the Law, including practicing certification without a license, disclosing information, electronic forgery, accessing another's signature system, and impersonation.
يعد مخالفة لأحكام هذا النظام؛ القيام بأي من الأعمال الآتية: 1 - ممارسة نشاط مقدم خدمات التصديق دون الحصول على ترخيص من الهيئة. 2 - استغلال مقدم خدمات التصديق ال
- Article 24Amended by M/57
The article punishes anyone committing a violation in Article 23 with a fine of up to SAR 5,000,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both, with possible confiscation of devices and publication of a summary of the judgment.
مع عدم الإخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب كل من يرتكب أياً من الأعمال المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثالثة والعشرين) من هذا النظام بغرامة لا تزيد على (
- Article 25
The Authority, in coordination with the relevant bodies, detects and inspects the Article 23 violations and records them in a report; it may seize the devices, systems and programs used pending determination, and the Governor designates the competent employees.
تتولى الهيئة بالاستعانة والتنسيق مع الجهات المعنية مهمة الضبط والتفتيش على ما يقع من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثالثة والعشرين) من هذا النظام، وتعد مح
- Article 26
The report detecting the violations in Article 25 is referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution to conduct the investigation and prosecution in accordance with its law before the competent judicial body.
يحال محضر ضبط المخالفات المنصوص عليه في المادة (الخامسة والعشرين) من هذا النظام - بعد مباشرة الهيئة لمهماتها - إلى هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام لتتولى التحقيق وا
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.