Article 8 of the Saudi Finance Lease Law

المادة 8 من نظام الإيجار التمويلي

The article prevents the lessee from making any change or modification to the leased asset without the lessor's written consent stating its nature, scope and who bears its cost.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

لا يجوز للمستأجر إجراء أي تغيير أو تعديل في الأصل المؤجر دون موافقة محررة من المؤجر، تتضمن طبيعة التغيير أو التعديل، ونطاقه، والمسؤول عن كلفته.

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 8 explained in plain English

The leased asset remains the lessor's property during the contract, so this article places a clear restriction on the lessee: it may not make any change or modification to the leased asset except with the lessor's consent.

Any consent is not enough; it must be:

In writing, not oral.
Stating the nature of the change or modification.
Stating its scope.
Stating who bears its cost.

These elements protect both parties: the lessee knows the limits of what it has been permitted and who pays the cost, and the lessor knows what will happen to its asset. The restriction covers "any" change or modification, as the text says.

Modification must be distinguished from maintenance: Article 7 requires the lessee to carry out operational maintenance at its own cost in accordance with accepted technical standards, and that is an obligation on it, not a modification. But adding something to the asset or changing its form requires the written consent. The article is also linked to Article 9, which makes the lessee bear the value of the asset if it is lost through its transgression or negligence, except for what insurance covers. If the lessee needs to modify the asset, it is safest to obtain the written consent before starting, and in a dispute you can consult a lawyer specializing in banking, finance and finance lease cases.

Practical example

Fahd leased a truck for transporting goods in Al-Qassim under a finance lease, and wanted to fit a refrigeration box on it. He may do so only with the written consent of the lessor company, stating the type of modification, its limits and who bears the cost of installation.

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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