Article 31 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
المادة 31 من نظام التنفيذ · الفصل السادس: بيع المال المحجوز
The article bars handing the sale price to the enforcement applicant before ownership is transferred, and requires the occupant of sold real estate to vacate it for the new owner unless he holds an enforceable instrument giving him a right to use it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لا يسلم ثمن المبيع لطالب التنفيذ -ومن يقوم مقامه- إلا بعد إكمال إجراءات نقل الملكية من الجهة المختصة.
2- إذا طلب من انتقل إليه عقار -وفق أحكام هذا الفصل- من شاغل العقار إخلاءه، فيجب على شاغل العقار إخلاؤه ما لم يكن شاغلاً للعقار بسند تنفيذي يتضمن حقًّا في استغلال العقار. فإن امتنع شاغل العقار عن إخلائه، فتتخذ المحكمة في شأن الممتنع الإجراءات المنصوص عليها في المادة (السادسة والثلاثين) من النظام، وذلك بناءً على طلب يقدمه من انتقل إليه العقار.
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 31 explained in plain English
This article deals with the stage after property is sold in enforcement proceedings, and sets two rules:
- Handing over the price after transfer of ownership: The sale price is not handed to the enforcement applicant or his successor until the procedures for transferring ownership are completed with the competent authority. Release of the amount is tied to completion of the transfer of ownership, not merely to completion of the sale.
- Vacating the real estate sold: If real estate passes to a person under the provisions of this chapter, and the occupant of the real estate is asked to vacate it, the occupant must vacate it. This excludes a person who occupies the real estate under an enforceable instrument that includes a right to use the real estate.
If the occupant refuses to vacate: If the occupant of the real estate refuses to vacate it, the person to whom the real estate passed may submit a request to the court, and the court takes against the person refusing the procedures provided for in Article 36 of the Law.
This article follows Article 30, which provides that attached property is sold, except what is stated in Article 29 and what the Implementing Regulations specify, by public auction, that the contract takes effect when the award decision is issued, and that the award decision clears the property sold of any claim of title as against the person to whom the sale is awarded. It is followed by Article 32, which specifies who bears enforcement expenses.
A person who occupies real estate sold in enforcement and believes he holds an instrument giving him a right to use it, or a person who bought real estate whose occupant refuses to vacate, may need to consult a lawyer specialized in enforcement cases.
Practical example
A villa in Riyadh owned by a debtor was sold at public auction as part of enforcement proceedings, and the sale was awarded to Khaled. The price is not handed to the enforcement applicant until the procedures for transferring ownership of the villa to Khaled are completed with the competent authority. If a person living in the villa was asked by Khaled to vacate and refused, without holding an enforceable instrument that includes a right to use it, Khaled may submit a request to the court to take against him the procedures provided for in Article 36.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 31 of Enforcement Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Real Estate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Real Estate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Alolayan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 31 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
When does the enforcement applicant receive the price of property sold in enforcement?
The sale price is not handed to the enforcement applicant or his successor until the procedures for transferring ownership are completed with the competent authority.
Must the occupant of real estate sold in enforcement vacate it?
Yes, if asked to by the person to whom the real estate passed, unless he occupies it under an enforceable instrument that includes a right to use it.
What can the buyer do if the occupant refuses to vacate the real estate?
He submits a request to the court, which takes against the person refusing the procedures provided for in Article 36 of the Law.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Seizing Assets and Auctions
- Article 5
The article requires the holder of an asset of the enforcement debtor, where several bodies issued attachment orders on it, to notify the body that issued the later order of the first attachment.
إذا تعددت الجهات التي أصدرت أمر الحجز على مال من أموال المنفذ ضده، فعلى المحجوز لديه المال إشعار الجهة التي أصدرت أمر الحجز اللاحق بالحجز الأول. وتحدد اللائحة ا
- Article 6
The article provides that where enforcement attachments from two judicial bodies, or from a judicial and an administrative body, meet on the enforcement debtor's assets, all his assets are treated as attached for all requests, supervised by the judicial body that attached first.
1- استثناءً من أحكام الاختصاص المنصوص عليها في النظام ونظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم والأنظمة الأخرى ذات الصلة، إذا اجتمع حجز تنفيذي من جهتين قضائيتين أو من ج
- 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 23
The article provides that all the enforcement debtor's assets stand as security for his debts from the date of notice or notification of the enforcement order or announcement, and allows enforcement attachment on an asset under precautionary attachment.
1- جميع أموال المنفذ ضده ضامنة لديونه من تاريخ إخطاره بطلب أداء الحق وفق ما قضت به المادة (الثانية عشرة) من النظام، أو من تاريخ إبلاغه بأمر التنفيذ أو من تاريخ
- 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 25
The article limits attachment of the enforcement debtor's property to the amount of the debt unless the property is indivisible, and lets him designate property to be enforced against first.
1- لا يجوز حجز أموال المنفذ ضده إلا بمقدار الدين المطالب به، ما لم يكن المال المحجوز عليه غير قابل للتجزئة. 2- تحدد المحكمة أموال المنفذ ضده محل التنفيذ بما يحق
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.