Article 18 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
المادة 18 من نظام التنفيذ · الفصل الثالث: إجراءات التنفيذ الجبري
The article provides that compulsory enforcement begins when 5 working days pass from notification without compliance, unless the debtor provides a bank guarantee, and permits a daily fine of up to SAR 5,000.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا مضت (خمسة) أيام عمل من تاريخ إبلاغ المنفذ ضده بأمر التنفيذ أو من تاريخ الإعلان وفق ما قضت به المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام، ولم ينفذ المنفذ ضده التزامه؛ تبدأ فورًا إجراءات التنفيذ الجبري في الأموال المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة، ما لم يقدم المنفذ ضده ضماناً بنكياً يكفي للوفاء بالحق، فيمهل مدة (عشرة) أيام عمل إضافية.
2- تكون إجراءات التنفيذ الجبري في الأموال وفق الآتي:
أ- إشعار الجهات المرخص لها نظامًا بتسجيل المعلومات الائتمانية بواقعة عدم التنفيذ.
ب- حجز أموال المنفذ ضده وما يرد إليه مستقبلاً، والتنفيذ عليها، بما في ذلك مستحقاته لدى الجهات العامة؛ وفقًا للأحكام المنظمة لذلك.
3- للمحكمة -إضافةً إلى ما سبق ذكره في الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة- فرض غرامة لا تزيد على (خمسة آلاف) ريال يوميًّا على المنفذ ضده عن كل يوم يمضي دون إتمام التنفيذ، على ألا تتجاوز حدًّا تحدد اللائحة مقداره. وللمحكمة إلغاء الغرامة أو جزء منها إذا نفّذ المنفذ ضده ما عليه من التزام. ولا تستوفى الغرامة إلا بعد الانتهاء من توزيع حصيلة التنفيذ. وتؤول حصيلة الغرامة الإجمالية إلى خزينة الدولة.
4- تحدد اللائحة الآليات التي يجوز للمحكمة اتخاذها لإنفاذ الإجراءات المنصوص عليها في الفقرتين (2) و(3) من هذه المادة.
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 18 explained in plain English
This is one of the most important articles of the law, because it sets when compulsory enforcement procedures begin and what they include.
1- Start of compulsory enforcement: if 5 working days pass from the date the enforcement debtor is notified of the enforcement order, or from the date of the announcement under Article 14, and he has not performed his obligation, compulsory enforcement procedures against his assets begin at once. The exception is where he provides a bank guarantee sufficient to satisfy the right, in which case he is given an additional 10 working days.
2- Procedures against assets:
- Notifying the bodies licensed under the law to record credit information of the failure to comply.
- Attaching the enforcement debtor's assets and what comes to him in the future, and enforcing against them, including his dues from public bodies, under the provisions regulating that.
3- The fine: in addition to the above, the court may impose on the enforcement debtor a fine of up to SAR 5,000 per day for each day that passes without completion of enforcement, provided it does not exceed a limit whose amount the Implementing Regulations set. Among its rules:
- The court may cancel the fine or part of it if the enforcement debtor performs his obligation.
- The fine is collected only after the distribution of the enforcement proceeds is finished, so it does not compete with the creditor's right.
- The proceeds of the fine go to the State treasury, not to the enforcement applicant.
4- Mechanisms: the Implementing Regulations specify the mechanisms the court may take to carry out the procedures and the fine.
It is followed by Article 19, which allows, after the same period has passed, banning the enforcement debtor from traveling outside the Kingdom at the request of the enforcement applicant.
Practical example
Turki was notified of an enforcement order for an amount established in a cheque, and he did not pay. After 5 working days from his notification, compulsory enforcement procedures begin at once, the credit information bodies are notified and his assets are attached. If Turki provides during the period a bank guarantee sufficient to pay the amount, he is given an additional 10 working days. The court may also impose a daily fine on him of up to SAR 5,000.
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 18 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
When do compulsory enforcement procedures begin?
If 5 working days pass from the date the enforcement debtor is notified of the enforcement order, or from the date of the announcement, without his performing his obligation, they begin at once.
Can compulsory enforcement be delayed by providing a bank guarantee?
Yes. If the enforcement debtor provides a bank guarantee sufficient to satisfy the right, he is given an additional 10 working days.
How much is the daily fine on a debtor who refuses to comply?
The court may impose a fine of up to SAR 5,000 per day, provided it does not exceed a limit the Implementing Regulations set, and its proceeds go to the State treasury.
Is the fine taken before the creditor's right?
No. The fine is collected only after the distribution of the enforcement proceeds is finished.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Compulsory Enforcement and Travel Ban
- Article 19
The article allows a travel ban on the enforcement debtor at the applicant's request for up to 3 years, extendable to 6 years, and lists the cases in which the ban is lifted.
1- إذا انقضت المدة، المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الثامنة عشرة) من النظام، تأمر المحكمة بمنع المنفذ ضده من السفر إلى خارج المملكة -بناءً على طلب يقدم م
- Article 20
The article provides that the court orders tracing of the enforcement debtor's assets at the applicant's request where indications of hiding or smuggling exist, and lets the applicant see data on his assets within the purpose.
1- في حال عدم تنفيذ المنفذ ضده لأمر التنفيذ بعد البدء في إجراءات التنفيذ الجبري، تأمر المحكمة بتتبع أمواله بناءً على طلب يقدم من طالب التنفيذ؛ متى توافرت قرائن
- Article 21
The article allows the court to question the enforcement debtor and anyone suspected of receiving smuggled assets where indications of hiding exist, requires a response within 3 working days, and permits compelled attendance.
1- للمحكمة -بناءً على طلب طالب التنفيذ- إذا توافرت قرائن تدل على إخفاء المنفذ ضده أمواله أو تهريبها أن تقوم بنفسها، أو من خلال أمر تصدره للإدارة المختصة أو للقط
- Article 22
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the controls and procedures for tracing assets provided for in this chapter.
تحدد اللائحة ضوابط وإجراءات تتبع الأموال المنصوص عليه في هذا الفصل.
- Article 24
The article lets the enforcement applicant sue to annul the debtor's gifts, early repayments and unusual contracts made before attachment, and declares any disposal after an attachment order void.
1- يجوز لطالب التنفيذ أن يتقدم إلى المحكمة بدعوى إبطال تصرف المنفذ ضده، إذا ثبت أنه تصرف بأي مالٍ من أمواله من تاريخ إخطاره بطلب أداء الحق وفق ما قضت به المادة
- Article 36
If an obligation to do or refrain from doing something is not performed within 5 working days, the court takes compulsory steps including the competent force, contacting the competent authority, a travel ban and a daily fine.
إذا كان محل التنفيذ فعلاً أو امتناعًا عن فعل، ولم يُنفذ المنفذ ضده التزامه خلال (خمسة) أيام عمل من تاريخ إبلاغه بأمر التنفيذ أو من تاريخ الإعلان وفق ما قضت به ا
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.