Notice Period
Synonyms: Notice Duration، Notification Period
Last updated: 2026-05-06
Short Definition
Required time period to notify the other party of intent to terminate or not renew the contract, typically 60 days before expiry in Saudi Arabia.
Overview
Legal Basis
The notice period is based on the good faith principle in dealings stipulated in the Civil Transactions Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/191) of 1444 AH. The Ejar Platform Regulation specifies default periods (60 days for annual contracts), while allowing agreement on different periods. Electronic notice mechanism via Ejar is considered legally valid documentation.
Practical Example
A female tenant in Khobar has a contract ending on Rajab 1. Her contract requires 60 days notice before expiry. She decided on Rajab 15 (14 days after expiry) that she doesn't want to renew — but Ejar had auto-renewed the contract because she didn't send notice before Jumada al-Ula 1. Result: obligated to a new year. Lesson: Send the non-renewal notice before the specified date by the notice period. Had she sent it on Jumada al-Ula 25 (5 days before required date), Ejar may not accept it as it's still within the 60-day period. Safety: send notice 75-80 days before contract end to give margin.
Common Mistakes
- ✗Merely informing the other party verbally a week before the period — not legally recognized regardless of relationship goodness.
- ✗Sending notice on the last day of the notice period — may not arrive in time and is deemed deficient.
- ✗Believing that WhatsApp communication constitutes formal notice — in dispute, notice via Ejar or official mail is invoked.
- ✗Failing to request receipt confirmation from the other party — they may claim non-receipt.
- ✗Calculating notice period from signature date instead of contract start date — may create calculation gap.
International Differences
In the UAE, the notice period is 90 days before contract end for non-renewal. In Turkey, the period is 15 days for residential (but termination is difficult). In the UK, the 'Notice Period' is legally specified. In the US, it varies between states (30-60 days). The Saudi advantage: flexibility in negotiating the period + instant electronic documentation.