In short
- The general rule in the Civil Transactions Law: claims are not heard after ten years (Art. 295).
- Shorter periods for specific rights: five years, one year, and twelve months for labour claims.
- A court claim or the debtor's acknowledgement interrupts the period, so do not wait for the last day.
What does "the claim is not heard" mean?
Saudi law does not say the right itself is extinguished; it says a claim for it will not be heard once the period has passed. The practical effect is similar: if the other side relies on the lapse of time, your claim may be dismissed without the court looking at its merits.
The main periods
- Ten years: the general rule for civil rights such as debts and contracts, unless a specific provision applies (Civil Transactions Law, Art. 295).
- Five years: recurring periodic rights such as rent, and the fees of liberal professions such as doctors, lawyers and engineers (Civil Transactions Law, Art. 296).
- One year: merchants' claims for goods supplied to non-traders, hotel and restaurant charges, daily workers' wages and similar rights (Civil Transactions Law, Art. 297).
- Three years: compensation for a harmful act, from when the injured party knew of the harm and of the person liable, and at most ten years from the harm (Civil Transactions Law).
- Five years: commercial claims, from the date the right arose, unless the defendant acknowledges it or the claimant shows an excuse the court accepts (Commercial Courts Law, Art. 24).
- Twelve months: labour claims, from the end of the employment relationship (Labour Law, Art. 222).
When does the period start?
Usually on the day the right became payable, not the date of the contract. A deferred instalment starts its own period on its due date, and each rent payment has its own period.
What interrupts the period?
- Filing a claim or a judicial demand for the right.
- The debtor acknowledging the right, expressly or impliedly, for example by asking for more time to pay or paying part of the debt.
The period may also be suspended where an excuse prevented the right holder from claiming. The details of interruption and suspension depend on the law that governs your right, so each case needs its own review.
A practical tip
Keep evidence of your debtor's acknowledgement: a message admitting the debt, a partial transfer, or a signed payment schedule. If the period is close to running out, a formal claim is safer than messages.
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We have deliberately not given article numbers for the tort and annulment periods until they are checked against the official text. We update this article whenever the law changes.
Content on this website is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact us for advice on your specific situation.