Article 24 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
المادة 24 من نظام التنفيذ · الفصل الخامس: الحجز التنفيذي
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 (الثانية عشرة) من النظام، أو من تاريخ إبلاغه بأمر التنفيذ أو من تاريخ الإعلان وفق ما قضت به المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام، وذلك قبل صدور الأمر بالحجز على المال، وتحكم المحكمة -في مواجهة من انتقل إليه المال- بإبطال التصرف كله أو بعضه في حدود مقدار السند التنفيذي؛ إذا كان تصرف المنفذ ضده من التصرفات الآتية:
أ- الهبات والتبرعات.
ب- الوفاء بدين قبل حلوله.
ج- العقود والالتزامات المالية غير المعتادة من مثله، وفق ما تقدره المحكمة.
2- يكون تصرف المنفذ ضده باطلاً إذا تصرف بالأموال محل التنفيذ بعد صدور الأمر بالحجز عليها.
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 24 explained in plain English
This article protects the enforcement applicant from acts by the enforcement debtor that drain his estate to the creditor's detriment. It distinguishes two stages:
1- Acts before the attachment order is issued (annulment action):
- The enforcement applicant may bring an annulment action before the court against a disposal by the enforcement debtor if it is established that he disposed of any of his property from the date he was notified of the request to perform the obligation under Article 12, or from the date he was informed of the enforcement order, or from the date of the announcement under Article 14, and this was before the attachment order was issued over the property.
- Three kinds of acts can be annulled: gifts and donations, payment of a debt before it falls due, and contracts and financial obligations that are unusual for a person in his position, as the court assesses.
- The court rules against the person to whom the property passed, annulling the disposal in whole or in part, and only within the amount of the enforceable instrument.
2- Acts after the attachment order is issued (automatic nullity): The enforcement debtor's disposal is void if he disposes of the property subject to enforcement after the attachment order over it has been issued. Unlike the first paragraph, the text does not require an annulment action here.
The upshot is that the first stage requires an action and proof that the act is one of the three types, whereas in the second stage nullity is established by the text of the article itself. This protection rests on Article 23, under which the enforcement debtor's property secures his debts from the same dates. Because whether an act is "unusual" is left to the court's assessment, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in enforcement cases.
Practical example
Nasser was notified of an enforcement order for a sum owed to a company in Riyadh, and before the attachment order was issued he gave land he owned to his son. The company may file an action to annul this gift, and the court rules against the son annulling it in whole or in part within the amount of the enforceable instrument. Had Nasser sold the land after the attachment order over it was issued, his disposal would have been void.
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 24 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
Can a debtor's gift to relatives to avoid a debt be annulled?
Yes. The enforcement applicant may file an action to annul gifts and donations made from the date of notification, or of being informed of the enforcement order, or of the announcement, and before the attachment order was issued, within the amount of the enforceable instrument.
Which acts can be annulled?
Gifts and donations, payment of a debt before it falls due, and contracts and financial obligations that are unusual for a person in the debtor's position, as the court assesses.
What is the ruling on a debtor disposing of property after it is attached?
His disposal is void if he disposes of the property subject to enforcement after the attachment order over it has been issued.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 12
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the cases in which the creditor must notify the debtor to pay the right in the enforcement instrument before the enforcement request is registered.
تحدد اللائحة الحالات التي يجب فيها أن يخطر الدائن المدين بأداء الحق محل السند التنفيذي قبل قيد طلب التنفيذ.
- Article 14
The article provides that the court orders the enforcement debtor to comply once the instrument meets its conditions, notifies him at once, and where notification is impossible announces the order, with effects running from the announcement.
إذا كان السند مستوفيًا شروطه النظامية، أمرت المحكمة المنفذ ضده بتنفيذه، ويبلغ المنفذ ضده بأمر التنفيذ فور صدوره، فإذا تعذر التبليغ فيُعلن عن أمر التنفيذ عبر الو
More articles on Compulsory Enforcement and Travel Ban
- Article 18
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.
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
- 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 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.