Article 3 of the Saudi Timesharing in Tourist Real Estate Units Law
المادة 3 من نظام المشاركة بالوقت فى الوحدات العقارية السياحية
The article sets the timesharing seller's obligations: providing a complete and accurate information document and having it approved, reporting any change, enabling the buyer to exercise his rights, and managing and maintaining the property.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يلتزم البائع بما يأتي:
1- أن يقدم لمن يطلب معلومات حول العقار المرتبط بالمشاركة بالوقت مستندًا يشتمل على معلومات كاملة ودقيقة عن ذلك العقار بحسب التفاصيل المحددة في اللائحة، وتعد جميع المعلومات جزءًا لا يتجزأ من عقد المشاركة بالوقت.
2- أن يقدم نسخة من المستند المشار إليه في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة إلى الهيئة للمراجعة والاعتماد، وذلك قبل الإعلان عنه أو قبل عرضه على الجمهور لبيعه.
3- أن يبلغ الهيئة والمشتري بأي تغيير يطرأ على المعلومات المقدمة في ذلك المستند قبل إبرام عقد المشاركة بالوقت، وأن يتضمن العقد نصًّا صريحًا بذلك التغيير.
4- أن يمكن المشتري من ممارسة جميع الحقوق المترتبة على عقد المشاركة بالوقت، بما فيها حقه في استعمال العقار في الوقت المحدد والفترة المتعاقد عليها.
5- أن يتخذ الإجراءات المناسبة لإدارة العقار ونظافته وصيانته، ليكون في حالة جيدة طوال فترة العقد وصالحًا للاستخدام. ويجوز تحصيل تكاليف الإدارة والصيانة السنوية من المشتري، وذلك وفقًا للطريقة المنصوص عليها في العقد.
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 3 explained in plain English
This article protects the buyer by obliging the seller to do five things:
- The information document: to provide anyone who requests information about the property with a document containing complete and accurate information according to the details set in the Implementing Regulations. All of this information is considered an integral part of the contract, so what is stated in the document binds the seller as the contract does.
- Prior approval: to submit a copy of the document to the Authority for review and approval before advertising it or before offering it to the public for sale.
- Reporting changes: to notify the Authority and the buyer of any change that occurs in the information before the contract is concluded, and the contract must include an express provision on this change.
- Enabling the buyer: to enable him to exercise all his rights, including using the property at the specified time and for the contracted period.
- Management and maintenance: to take suitable measures to manage the property, keep it clean and maintain it so that it remains in good condition and fit for use throughout the term of the contract. It is permitted to collect the annual management and maintenance costs from the buyer in the manner stated in the contract.
The article is linked to Article 2, which requires that the advertisement include a statement of whether this document can be obtained and where, and to Article 4, which requires drafting the contract and the document in Arabic with the possibility of translating them, with the Arabic version of the contract being the authoritative one. The Authority mentioned had its definition amended in Article 1 to (the Ministry: the Ministry of Tourism). Anyone who believes the seller has breached these obligations may consult a lawyer specialized in real estate matters.
Practical example
Ahmed bought a right of use of an apartment in a resort in Abha for two weeks every summer. When he arrived on time he found the unit unfit for use because of neglected maintenance. The seller is obliged to manage and maintain the property so that it is in good condition, and to enable Ahmed to use the unit at the contracted time.
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 3 of the Saudi Timesharing in Tourist Real Estate Units Law
Is the information the seller provides about the property binding?
Yes. All the information in the document is considered an integral part of the timesharing contract.
May the seller charge the buyer annual maintenance fees?
The annual management and maintenance costs may be collected from the buyer in the manner stated in the contract.
What if the property information changes before signing the contract?
The seller must notify the Authority and the buyer of any change, and the contract must include an express provision on that change.
More articles on Time-Share Contract and the Seller's Obligations
- Article 1
The article defines the key terms of the Timesharing Law, such as tourist real estate units, timesharing and its contract, the property, the seller, the buyer and credit.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية– أينما وردت في هذا النظام– المعاني المبينة أمامها ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك : الوحدات العقارية السياحية: الفنادق والشقق المفروشة
- Article 4Amended (1435 AH)
The article sets the scope of the Law over timesharing contracts, requires the contract to be in writing in Arabic with the details in the Regulations, and bars non-Saudis from the activity and from acquiring rights in Makkah and Madinah other than by inheritance.
1- تطبق الأحكام الواردة في هذا النظام على عقود المشاركة بالوقت التي تبرم في المملكة العربية السعودية. كما تطبق على عقود المشاركة بالوقت المبرمة خارج المملكة الع
- Article 8
The article makes void any waiver by the buyer to the seller of his rights guaranteed by the Timesharing Law, and any release of the seller from his obligations under it.
يعد باطلًا تنازل المشتري للبائع عن أي من الحقوق المكفولة له بموجب هذا النظام، أو إعفاؤه البائع من أي من التزاماته الناشئة عن هذا النظام.
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.