Article 13 of the Saudi Law on Security Rights in Movable Assets
المادة 13 من نظام ضمان الحقوق بالأموال المنقولة · الفصل الرابع: نفاذ حق الضمان في مواجهة الغير
The article provides that a registered security right stays effective if the collateral becomes real estate by designation, and is effective against creditors secured by that real estate, unless the collateral was designated before the real estate was mortgaged and the right was not registered.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- أ- يستمر نفاذ حق الضمان في مواجهة الغير حتى وإن أصبحت الضمانة عقارًا بالتخصيص؛ إذا كان حق الضمان مشهرًا في السجل.
ب- يسري نفاذ حق الضمان المشهر في الضمانة التي أصبحت عقارًا بالتخصيص في مواجهة أي دائن مضمون بالعقار الذي خصصت له تلك الضمانة، سواءً وضع العقار ضمانًا لالتزام قبل تخصيص الضمانة للعقار أو بعد التخصيص.
2- لا ينفذ حق الضمان المنشأ على الضمانة التي أصبحت عقارًا بالتخصيص في مواجهة الدائن المرتهن للعقار إذا تم تخصيص الضمانة للعقار قبل تسجيل الرهن على العقار ما لم يكن حق الضمان مشهرًا.
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 13 explained in plain English
An owner may place a movable in real estate he owns to serve it or exploit it permanently, such as factory machines or the cooling equipment of a warehouse, and it then becomes, under the definition in Article 1, real estate by designation. This article deals with the fate of the security right over this movable.
Paragraph 1(a): the security right's effectiveness against third parties continues even if the collateral becomes real estate by designation, provided the security right is registered in the Registry.
Paragraph 1(b): the effectiveness of the registered security right over this collateral applies against any creditor secured by the real estate to which it was designated, whether the real estate was provided as security for an obligation before the collateral was designated to the real estate or after it.
Paragraph 2: a security right over collateral that became real estate by designation is not effective against the creditor holding a mortgage on the real estate if the collateral was designated to the real estate before the mortgage was registered over the real estate, unless the security right was registered.
Practical summary: registration is what protects the holder of a security right over a movable against the real estate's creditors. Someone who accepts machines or equipment as security, and expects them to be installed in real estate, should register his right in the Registry.
It is followed by Article 14 on attaching the collateral to another movable asset, and preceded by Article 12 on the bar-on-assignment condition. To assess priority between creditors of the movable and creditors of the real estate in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in commercial and finance matters.
Practical example
A factory in Jubail bought machines with financing secured by them, and the financing company registered its right in the Registry. The machines were then installed in the factory building, which is mortgaged to another bank. The financing company's right over the machines remains effective against the bank holding the mortgage on the building, because its right is registered.
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 13 of the Saudi Law on Security Rights in Movable Assets
Does a pledge over equipment lapse if it is installed in real estate?
No. The security right's effectiveness against third parties continues even if the collateral becomes real estate by designation, if the security right is registered in the Registry.
Can a registered security right be asserted against whoever holds a mortgage on the real estate?
Yes. The registered security right is effective against any creditor secured by the real estate, whether the real estate was provided as security before or after the designation.
When is a security right not effective against the real estate mortgagee?
If the collateral was designated to the real estate before the mortgage was registered over the real estate and the security right was not registered.
More articles on Effectiveness of a Security Right Against Third Parties
- Article 8
The article requires registration, or transfer of possession of the collateral to the secured party, for a security right to be effective against third parties, and refers to the Implementing Regulations the cases where possession is the only means.
1- يشترط لنفاذ حق الضمان في مواجهة الغير الإشهار، أو انتقال حيازة الضمانة إلى المضمون له انتقالاً مباشرًا أو غير مباشر سواء كان انتقالاً حقيقيًّا أو حكميًّا. 2-
- Article 9
The article provides that replacing the method of effectiveness of a security right from registration to possession, or the reverse, does not interrupt its continued effectiveness against third parties, subject to the cases where possession is the only means.
مع مراعاة حكم الفقرة (2) من المادة (الثامنة) من النظام، لا يؤثر استبدال طريقة نفاذ حق الضمان على الضمانة من الإشهار إلى الحيازة أو العكس، في استمرار نفاذ حق الض
- Article 10
The article extends a security right's effectiveness automatically to the proceeds of the collateral for fifteen days from the grantor's receipt of them unless excluded, after which it lapses except for identifiable cash proceeds or proceeds described in the registration.
1- يستمر حق الضمان النافذ في مواجهة الغير تلقائيًّا على عوائد الضمانة لمدة (خمسة عشر) يومًا من قبض الضامن لها، ما لم يتفق عند إنشاء حق الضمان على استثنائها. 2-
- Article 11
The article provides that where the collateral is a right against a third party, the security right becomes effective against that third party from the date he is notified of its creation over the right.
إذا كانت الضمانة حقًّا لدى الغير، فيكون نفاذ حق الضمان في مواجهة ذلك الغير من تاريخ إبلاغه بإنشاء حق الضمان على الحق.
- Article 12
The article provides that a condition restricting the grantor's right to provide his receivables or assign his rights as security does not affect the validity or effectiveness of the security right, and the party who required it may still claim against the grantor.
لا يؤثر أي شرط في اتفاق يقيد حق الضامن في تقديم ديونه أو حوالة حقوقه ضمانة على صحة عقد إنشاء حق الضمان أو نفاذه، ولا يمنع ذلك الطرف الذي اشترط القيد لمصلحته من
- Article 14
The article provides that a security right stays effective against third parties if the collateral is attached to another movable asset in a way that allows it to be separated.
يستمر نفاذ حق الضمان في مواجهة الغير في حال إلحاق الضمانة بمال منقول آخر بشكل قابل للفصل.
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.

