Legal & RegulatoryLegal Notice
Synonyms: formal notice، legal notification، statutory notice، official notice، written notification
Last updated: 2026-10-05
Short Definition
Official notice sent through Notary Public to inform other party of claim or warning, preliminary step before litigation.
Overview
A legal notice is a formal, documented notification sent by one contracting party to the other to inform them of an imminent or current legal event or to require an action. It serves as a fundamental procedural cornerstone in the legal and real estate settlement system, producing legal effects upon delivery or deposit through approved channels.
Within the Saudi tenancy framework, legal notices are required in numerous situations: early eviction, non-renewal, rent increases (subject to the RERI index limits), maintenance requests, and proof of default. They are submitted through official channels such as the Ejar platform, Najiz postal services, and judicial notification services via the Najiz platform.
A legal notice differs from ordinary communication in that it produces binding effects even if the recipient refuses to accept it, provided delivery to their registered address is proven. Subsequent statutory deadlines are calculated from the date of documented dispatch, not from the date of reading or response.
⚖️ Legal Basis
Legal notice provisions in tenancy contracts are governed by the Litigation Procedures System, the executive regulations of the Unified Rental System, and the notification and service rules issued by the Ministry of Justice.
💡 Practical Example
Reem Al-Otaibi, owner of an apartment in Al-Shatia district, Jeddah, decided not to renew her tenant's lease. She sent a formal notice through the Ejar platform 90 days before the end of the registered contract, accompanied by digital documentation proving the dispatch date. The tenant refused to accept the notice, claiming he had not received it. Reem turned to the Najiz platform and deposited the notice at the tenant's registered address as recorded in the Ejar contract. When the 90-day period expired, Reem requested formal eviction. The judiciary upheld her request based on the documented notice, which was considered legally served from the date of deposit.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ✗Sending notice via WhatsApp messages or ordinary email without official documentation
- ✗Failing to observe the notice periods specified in the contract or the law (30, 60, or 90 days)
- ✗Neglecting to retain proof of receipt or document the deposit date
- ✗Drafting the notice in vague language that does not specify the required action or deadline
- ✗Believing that the recipient's refusal to accept the notice nullifies its legal effect
🌍 International Differences
In the UAE, legal notices are served through the Ejari system and official postal services, with rental dispute centres requiring specific deadlines. In Turkey, the Turkish Code of Obligations governs notification procedures, with formal service required to terminate residential tenancy contracts. In Egypt, notices must be sent through real estate registration offices or judicial notification. In the UK, tenancy laws such as the Landlord and Tenant Act specify notice period requirements precisely. In the US, notice requirements vary by state but typically range from 30 to 60 days.
FAQs
How many days in advance must a notice be sent before eviction?▾
Under the statutory provisions regulating the lessor–lessee relationship (Royal Decree M/73), a residential or commercial lease renews automatically unless either party notifies the other at least 60 days before it ends that it does not want to renew; REGA decisions require 365 days in residential leases when the lessor wants the unit for personal use or a first-degree relative. Eviction before the term ends does not happen by notice, but by agreement or by a judgment or decision of the competent court.
Is an electronic notice through Ejar legally recognized?▾
Yes, notices sent through official approved platforms such as Ejar and Najiz carry full legal standing, and their dispatch date is legally recognized.
What happens if the tenant's registered address is incorrect?▾
Responsibility lies with the tenant to keep their information updated. A landlord who serves notice at the address registered on the platform is exempt from liability for non-receipt.
Can a verbal notice be given instead of a written one?▾
This is not recommended. Saudi law requires written notice for situations with legal consequences such as eviction and rent increases. Verbal notices cannot be proven before the courts.
Does the deadline run from the date of dispatch or the date of receipt?▾
No general rule settles this for every case; it depends on what the law or the lease provides. A notice sent through Ejar keeps a record of its dispatch date, so the safer course is to send it with a comfortable margin before the statutory deadline.
