Auction Catalog
Synonyms: Auction Bulletin، Auction Brochure، Lot Catalogue، Auction Particulars
Last updated: 2026-09-25
Short Definition
An auction catalog is the document presenting the properties offered at auction, their details and the bidding terms; in Saudi Arabia it is the «real estate auction bulletin», which must be listed on REGA's platform before publication and announced at least five days ahead.
Overview
Legal Basis
Article 8 of REGA's Real Estate Auctions Regulation (REGA Board decision of 1/12/1444H) requires the real estate auction bulletin to be listed on the electronic platform before being made public and lists its mandatory contents (11 items, including disclosure of real rights, disputes, mortgages and restrictions); Article 3(8) requires the bulletin to be announced at least five days ahead. Article 10(6) of the Real Estate Brokerage Law, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/130) dated 30/11/1443H, obliges brokers to disclose information and not to provide misleading information; Article 18 treats concealing material information as a violation; and Article 19 allows fines of up to SAR 200,000. In judicial sales, Article 50(1) of the Execution Law (M/53 dated 13/8/1433H) sets out the content of the auction notice.
Practical Example
A licensed establishment issues an auction bulletin for ten commercial units in Dammam and lists it on REGA's platform a week before publication. For each unit the bulletin gives the title deed number, area and location, opening value, minimum award value, entry amount (5% of the appraised value) and a ten-working-day payment period. It discloses that unit 4 is leased under a documented contract expiring in 18 months at SAR 60,000 a year, and that unit 7 is subject to a boundary dispute pending in court. Thanks to this disclosure, bidders price the leased unit as an income-producing investment, and most avoid the disputed unit, which sells for less with everyone fully informed.
Common Mistakes
- ✗Relying on photos and marketing adverts without reading the official bulletin listed on REGA's platform.
- ✗Failing to disclose a mortgage, dispute or existing lease in the bulletin — concealing material information is a Brokerage Law violation.
- ✗Publishing the bulletin before listing it on REGA's platform or before REGA approves the auction request.
- ✗Announcing the bulletin less than five days before the auction — below the regulation's minimum.
- ✗Using the bulletin's description as a substitute for inspecting the property and checking the title deed and plan.
International Differences
In the UK, auction houses issue a catalogue with property details, and a «legal pack» is made available so buyers can examine title before the auction. In Turkey, the enforcement sale notice (satış ilanı) includes the property's details, estimated value and sale terms. In the US, auction companies publish detailed listings, often with broad disclaimers. The Saudi model is distinctive in prescribing mandatory bulletin content, including disclosure of real rights, disputes, mortgages and undocumented obligations, and in requiring the bulletin to be listed on REGA's platform before publication.
