Contracts and obligations · Legal glossary
Pre-emption (shuf'a)In Arabic: الشفعة
Definition
Pre-emption (shuf‘a) is a co-owner’s right to take real property that has been sold to a third party, at the price and costs of that sale, on the conditions the law sets.
How it varies across the GCC
Saudi Civil Transactions Law states it in article 658. Bahrain’s Civil Code, article 860, describes it as a right to step into the buyer’s place. Oman’s Civil Transactions Law states it in article 903.
The rules that apply to a specific matter depend on the state, any free zone involved and the current text of the law, so check the official source before relying on them.
Sources
Official texts for the points on this page. General information, not legal advice. An article number is cited only where it was verified.
- Saudi Civil Transactions Law, art. 658https://laws.boe.gov.sa/BoeLaws/Laws/LawDetails/655fdb42-8c96-422b-b8c4-b04f0095c94c/1
- Bahrain Civil Code, Decree-Law No. 19 of 2001, art. 860https://www.lloc.gov.bh/Legislation/HTM/L1901
- Oman Civil Transactions Law, Royal Decree 29/2013 (text on qanoon.om), art. 903https://qanoon.om/p/2013/rd2013029/