General Affidavit Template for Saudi Arabia

Yes, a General Affidavit is legally binding in Saudi Arabia when properly executed and notarized according to the Law of Notaries (Royal Decree No. M/26). The document must comply with both Sharia principles and Saudi civil law requirements to be considered valid evidence in legal proceedings. Once sworn and authenticated by authorized officials, making false statements in the affidavit can result in legal penalties.

Creating a General Affidavit typically takes 1-3 business days, depending on complexity and notary availability. The actual notarization process usually takes 1-2 hours at the notary office, provided all required documents and identification are present. Government offices and notaries may have specific working hours and appointment requirements that could extend the timeline.

General Affidavits and Statutory Declarations serve different purposes under Saudi law and are not interchangeable. A General Affidavit is used for broad factual statements and legal declarations, while Statutory Declarations are typically required for specific government procedures. Always verify with the requesting authority which document type is required, as using the wrong format may cause delays or rejection.

Your General Affidavit must be written in Arabic or accompanied by a certified Arabic translation, signed in the presence of an authorized notary, and include your full legal name and Saudi ID or Iqama number. The content must not contradict Sharia principles as established under the Basic Law of Governance (Royal Order No. A/90). All statements must be truthful and the document requires proper notarial seals and signatures per the Law of Notaries.

The most common mistakes include using incorrect Arabic translations, failing to include required identification numbers, making vague or ambiguous statements, and not having proper witnesses present during notarization. Many people also forget to bring original identification documents to the notary office or attempt to notarize documents that contradict Islamic principles, which renders them invalid under Saudi law.

An incomplete General Affidavit will likely be rejected by government authorities, courts, or business entities, causing significant delays in your legal or administrative proceedings. You may need to restart the entire notarization process, incur additional fees, and potentially face penalties if deadlines are missed. In some cases, incomplete documents can also raise questions about the validity of your entire submission.

General Affidavits must be notarized at authorized notary offices (Kuttab Al-Adl), the Ministry of Justice offices, or licensed notary public offices throughout Saudi Arabia. Major cities have multiple locations, and you must present valid identification (Saudi ID or Iqama) along with any supporting documents. Some notaries require appointments, so it's advisable to call ahead and confirm their specific requirements and operating hours.