Article 32 of the Saudi Notarization Law
المادة 32 من نظام التوثيق · الفصل الأول: الواجبات والمحظورات
The article prohibits the notary and the licensee from disclosing the secrets of transactions and any information they saw or obtained because of their work.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُحظر على كاتب العدل والمرخص له إفشاء أسرار المعاملات وأي معلومة اطلعا عليها، أو تحصلا عليها بسبب عملهما.
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 32 explained in plain English
This article sets a duty of confidentiality on everyone who practices notarization: the notary and the licensee, meaning the licensed notary or marriage officiant.
The prohibition covers two things:
- The secrets of the transactions they notarize.
- Any information they saw or obtained because of their work, even if it is not part of the transaction itself.
The text is broad: it is not limited to the content of the contract or acknowledgment but extends to everything that reaches the notarizing person in connection with the work, such as the personal data of the parties or circumstances they mention during notarization. The condition is that the information was seen or obtained because of the work.
The article mentions no exceptions to this prohibition and sets no penalty for violating it, so no particular sanction can be inferred from its text alone.
This rule complements Article 31, which bars taking the notarization record or any retained official document out of the notary's office or the notarization office except in the cases of travel it mentions; both rules protect people's transactions and documents. Anyone who believes the information about their transaction was disclosed may consult a lawyer who specializes in notarization matters.
Practical example
Latifa notarized an acknowledgment of receiving a sum from a relative before a licensed notary in Jeddah, and mentioned details of a family dispute during the notarization. The notary may not disclose the details of the acknowledgment or what he learned about the dispute, because he learned of it because of his work.
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 32 of the Saudi Notarization Law
May the licensed notary tell anyone the details of my transaction?
No. The notary and the licensee are prohibited from disclosing the secrets of transactions.
Is the confidentiality duty limited to the contract itself?
No. It covers any information the notarizing person saw or obtained because of his work.
More articles on Duties of the Notary Public and Private Notary
- Article 27
The article requires the notary and the licensee to record the statements of the parties only after verifying their capacity, status and identity and confirming their documents are valid, and refers the details to the Implementing Regulations.
على كاتب العدل والمرخص له كتابة إقرارات ذوي الشأن بعد التحقق من أهليتهم وصفاتهم وهوياتهم، والتثبت من المستندات المقدمة منهم، وأنها صالحة للاعتماد عليها، وتبين ا
- Article 28
The article requires the notary and the licensee to use an approved translator for anyone who does not speak Arabic well, requires the translator to sign, and bars using a translator with an interest in what is notarized.
على كاتب العدل والمرخص له الاستعانة بمترجم معتمد لمن لا يحسن العربية، ويوقع المترجم على ما قام به من ترجمة، ولا تجوز الاستعانة بمترجم له مصلحة فيما يوثق.
- Article 29
The article bars the notary and the licensee from notarizing matters touching their own interest or that of their spouse, ascendants, descendants or persons under their guardianship, even when acting as a representative.
لا يجوز لكاتب العدل أو المرخص له توثيق ما يتعلق بمصلحته، أو مصلحة زوجه أو أصوله، أو فروعه أو من تحت ولايته ولو بصفة النيابة.
- Article 30
The article requires the notary to receive notarization requests and take the necessary steps under the Law and its Regulations, and gives anyone whose request is refused the right to file a grievance with the competent department.
على كاتب العدل تلقي طلبات التوثيق، واتخاذ ما يلزم في شأنها، وفقاً لأحكام النظام ولائحته، ولمن رُفض طلبه حق التظلم لدى الإدارة المختصة.
- Article 31
The article confines the notary's work to the notary's office except under controls set by the competent department, allows the licensed notary to travel at the parties' request, and bars removing the notarization record and official documents otherwise.
يقوم كاتب العدل بأعمال التوثيق في كتابة العدل، ولا ينتقل خارجها إلا وفق ضوابط تحددها الإدارة المختصة، أما الموثق فله أن ينتقل إذا طلب ذوو الشأن ذلك. وفي غير ما
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.