In short
Yes, with conditions. Saudi Arabia’s Electronic Transactions Law (Royal Decree No. M/18, March 27, 2007) gives electronic transactions, records and signatures “full effect”, provided they are carried out in compliance with the law’s conditions (Article 5(1)). An electronic signature generated in accordance with the law “shall be equal to a hand-written signature” (Article 14(1)). Two areas are excluded unless the responsible authority approves: personal status matters and deeds for real property.
What the law says
- Definition. An electronic signature is “electronic data included in, attached to, or logically associated with an electronic transaction and used to verify the identity and approval of the person signing it and to detect any change to said transaction after signature” (Article 1).
- Consent. No one is compelled to use electronic transactions “without his implicit or explicit consent”. A government agency’s consent must be explicit. A person may set extra conditions for accepting electronic transactions (Article 4).
- Legal effect. The validity and enforceability of electronic transactions, records and signatures may not be contested on the ground that they were made electronically, if they meet the law’s conditions (Article 5(1)).
- Writing, storage and originals. Electronic records can meet writing and storage requirements under the conditions in Articles 6 and 7. A record counts as an original when technical means ensure its integrity from the time it is finalized (Article 8).
- Evidence. Electronic transactions and signatures are admissible as evidence if their records meet Article 8. Reliability is judged by how the record was created, stored and sent, how its integrity was kept, and how the originator was identified (Article 9).
- Contracts. Offer and acceptance may be expressed electronically (Article 10).
- Certificates. When an electronic signature is used in a legal procedure, it is presumed to belong to the person named in the relevant digital certificate and the transaction is presumed unaltered, unless proven otherwise (Article 14(3)). This presumption does not apply if the signature does not meet the law and its Implementing Regulations (Article 14(4)). Digital certificates are issued by licensed certification service providers (Article 1).
Exceptions
Article 3 says the law does not apply to:
- “Transactions pertaining to personal status.”
- “Issuance of deeds of legal actions pertaining to real property.”
These can be done electronically only if the authorities responsible for them approve, under conditions they set with the Ministry.
Practical checklist
- Check Article 3. For personal status or real property deeds, confirm whether the responsible authority allows electronic signing.
- Get each party’s consent. For a government agency, get explicit consent and follow its conditions.
- Decide whether you need a certificate-based signature from a licensed certification service provider, for example to rely on the Article 14(3) presumptions.
- Use signing methods that confirm identity and approval and can detect later changes.
- Store records in their original form, keep them accessible, and keep details of who sent them and when (Article 6).
- Review the Implementing Regulations, which set technical conditions the law refers to.
How vScrawl fits
- Audit trail. vScrawl records who viewed and signed, when and from where. Each signed document includes a certificate of completion with timestamps, IP addresses and email verifications.
- Change detection. Tamper-evident seals use cryptographic hashing so later changes can be detected.
- Signer authentication. Turn on two-factor authentication or passkeys for each document.
- Records. Download completed documents and keep them with their audit trail.
vScrawl does not claim to be a certification service provider licensed under this law, and it does not give legal advice. The vScrawl Localization page lists English, French, German and Spanish; ask vScrawl about Arabic.
FAQ
Is an electronic signature equal to a handwritten one in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, if it is generated in accordance with the law and its Implementing Regulations (Article 14).
Can I sign a real estate deed electronically?
Not by default. Article 3 excludes deeds of legal actions pertaining to real property unless the responsible authority approves electronic completion.
Do government agencies accept electronic signatures?
Only with their explicit consent and under their own conditions (Article 4(2)).
Related: E-signature laws by country · Signer Authentication
This page is general information, not legal advice. Ask a qualified Saudi lawyer about your document.
Sources
- Electronic Transactions Law, Royal Decree No. M/18, English translation by the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers: https://laws.boe.gov.sa/Files/Download/?attId=758143f9-52ec-4a6f-92c8-adbb011cf516
