Civil Transactions Law (contracts dated before 1 June 2026) · Federal Law 5 of 1985
Article 880
Section 3: Contracts of work > Chapter One: Muqawala (contract to make a thing or to perform a task) > Part 2: Effects of a muqawala > 1- Obligations of the contractor
This law is repealed. The article applies to contracts dated before 1 June 2026; later contracts fall under the 2025 Civil Transactions Law.
English translation
(1) If the subject matter of the contract is the construction of buildings or other fixed installations, the plans for which are made by an architect, to be carried out by the contractor under his supervision, they shall both be jointly liable for a period of ten years to make compensation to the employer for any total or partial collapse of the building they have constructed or installation they have erected, and for any defect which threatens the stability or safety of the building, unless the contract specifies a longer period. The above shall apply unless the contracting parties intend that such installations should remain in place for a period of less than ten years.
(2) The said obligation to make compensation shall remain notwithstanding that the defect or collapse arises out of a defect in the land itself or that the employer consented to the construction of the defective buildings or installations.
(3) The period of ten years shall commence as from the time of delivery of the work.
Official translation, as published by the portal.
Official Arabic text
1 - إذا كان محل عقد المقاولة إقامة مبانٍ أو منشآت ثابتة أخرى يضع المهندس تصميمها على أن ينفذها المقاول تحت إشرافه كانا متضامنين في التعويض لصاحب العمل عما يحدث خلال عشر سنوات من تهدم كلي أو جزئي فيما شيداه من مبانٍ أو أقاماه من منشآت وعن كل عيب يهدد متانة البناء وسلامته إذا لم يتضمن العقد مدة أطول. كل ذلك ما لم يكن المتعاقدان قد أرادا أن تبقى هذه المنشآت مدة أقل من عشر سنوات. 2 - ويبقى الالتزام في التعويض المذكور ولو كان الخلل أو التهدم ناشئًا من عيب في الأرض ذاتها أو رضي صاحب العمل بإقامة المباني أو المنشآت المعيبة. 3 - وتبدأ مدة السنوات العشر من وقت تسليم العمل.
What it means when you sign
This article covers buildings and other fixed installations where an architect makes the plans and the contractor carries them out under the architect's supervision. For ten years, both are jointly liable to compensate the employer for any total or partial collapse of what they built, and for any defect that threatens the stability or safety of the building, unless the contract specifies a longer period. This does not apply where the parties intended the installations to remain for less than ten years. The duty remains even if the defect or collapse arises from a defect in the land itself or the employer consented to the defective construction. The ten years start from delivery of the work.
When you are about to sign a construction contract, this article means that the ten-year liability, the joint responsibility of architect and contractor, and the start from delivery are central. Clauses on defects liability periods, handover, indemnity and the employer's approval of work are worth reading against it.
In Fahm reports this article usually sits under: Hidden wording
Related articles
- Article 876This article says who supplies the additional equipment and tools needed to complete a job under a contract to make a thing or perform a task.
- Article 877Cited in Fahm reportsThis article requires the contractor to complete the work in accordance with the conditions of the contract.
- Article 878This article makes the contractor liable for any loss or damage resulting from the contractor's own act or work, whether or not it came about through the contractor's wrongful act or default.
- Article 879This article deals with a contractor who holds property while waiting to be paid.
- Article 881This article deals with an architect whose work is limited to making the plans and does not include supervising how they are carried out.
- Article 882Cited in Fahm reportsThis article makes void any agreement whose purpose is to exempt the contractor or the architect from liability, or to limit that liability.