Article 22 of the Saudi Registered Real Estate Mortgage Law

This article sets a short but important rule: the effect of the mortgage is confined to the debt specified in the mortgage document.

This means the mortgage secures only the debt that the document specifies. It does not automatically extend to other debts that may arise between the mortgagor and the mortgagee, nor to the mortgagee's claims against the debtor from other transactions unless they fall within the debt specified in the document.

This rule has two benefits:

• For the mortgagor: the mortgagor knows exactly how far the property is committed and is not surprised to find it securing debts never intended.
• For third parties: anyone dealing with the property can tell from the document how much burden it carries.

If the parties want the property to secure an additional debt, this article does not bring it into the mortgage as long as it is not specified in its document, and the article itself does not explain how to add it.

This article is connected to Article 21, which provides that the effect of a registered mortgage applies against third parties from its registration date, and to Article 23, which requires the transfer of the secured debt or the waiver of its rank to be recorded in the original mortgage document and the property record in order to be invoked against non-parties. Anyone who has more than one debt with a single party and wants to know what their property secures should consider consulting a lawyer specializing in real estate and real estate finance cases.