Guide · Commercial papers · Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Promissory note vs bill of exchange vs cheque
A promissory note (سند لأمر) is a promise. A bill of exchange (كمبيالة) is an order. A cheque (شيك) is an order written with the word “شيك”, and a cheque issued in the Kingdom and payable in it may be drawn only on a bank. The particulars of each are in the Commercial Papers Law. From the entry into force of the new Enforcement Law, a bill and a note are enforcement instruments only if they are registered on the national electronic platforms, and cheques are enforcement instruments under a paragraph that does not tie them to that registration. The law applies 180 days after its publication on 1 May 2026. This page does not name the calendar day on which that period ends. In the UAE the bill of exchange is in Article 511, and the particulars of a promissory note are in Article 622, of Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022. The cheque-definition article is under review. Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman are under review.
This is general information, not legal advice, and it does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Laws change. Check the sources and have the text reviewed by a lawyer licensed in the relevant jurisdiction before you rely on it. Last reviewed: 22 October 2026.
The three instruments
A promissory note is an unconditional promise to pay a sum certain of money, signed by the person who makes it (the maker). A bill of exchange is an unconditional order to pay a sum certain, it names the person who must pay (the drawee), and it is signed by the person who draws it (the drawer). A cheque carries the word “شيك” in the body and in the language in which it is written, an unconditional order to pay, and the name of the person who must pay. That is the difference in the particulars in Articles 1, 87 and 91 of the Commercial Papers Law, Royal Decree No. 37 of 11/10/1383H.
Cheques issued in the Kingdom and payable in it may be drawn only on a bank. An instrument drawn in the form of a cheque on a person other than a bank is not a valid cheque. That is Article 93.
All three sit in the Commercial Papers Law, so a promissory note is a commercial paper in that sense. This page does not call it a nominate contract, and it does not send it to a chapter of the Civil Transactions Law. An acknowledgement of debt is a different paper. Its path is the debt-acknowledgement template, not these three.
The particulars
A bill of exchange, Article 1: the word “كمبيالة” in the body and in the language of the instrument; an unconditional order to pay a sum certain of money; the name of the drawee; maturity; the place of payment; the name of the person to whom or to whose order payment is due; the date and place of issue; and the drawer’s signature. Article 2 states when an instrument missing a particular is still a bill.
A promissory note, Article 87: an order clause or the words “سند لأمر” in the body and in the language of the note; an unconditional promise to pay a sum certain of money; maturity; the place of payment; the name of the person to whom or to whose order payment is due; the date and place of issue; and the maker’s signature. That list has no drawee. Article 88 states the effect of a missing particular. The promissory-note template sets that effect out.
A cheque, Article 91: the word “شيك” in the body and in the language of the instrument; an unconditional order to pay a sum certain of money; the name of the drawee; the place of payment; the date and place of issue; and the drawer’s signature. Article 91’s list has no maturity and no payee. Article 92 states the two cases in which an instrument missing a particular is still a cheque.
When each is an enforcement instrument
The Enforcement Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/237 of 3/11/1447H replaces the 1433H Enforcement Law and applies 180 days after its publication on 1 May 2026. This page does not name the calendar day on which that period ends.
From entry into force, a bill of exchange and a promissory note are enforcement instruments only if they are registered on the national electronic platforms (Article 7(1)(d)). The regulation sets the conditions, controls and procedure for that registration. This page does not name the platforms. The promissory-note template describes the Nafith route for creating a note. This page does not say that Nafith is the regulation’s list.
Cheques are enforcement instruments under Article 7(1)(هـ). That paragraph does not tie a cheque to registration on the national electronic platforms.
Under Clause Fifth of the decree, a bill of exchange or a promissory note issued before entry into force remains an enforcement instrument for one year after entry into force if it meets the statutory conditions other than registration on the national electronic platforms.
This page states no travel ban, no suspension of services, and no criminal penalty. No such text was reviewed here. It states no limitation period. Maturity is a particular in Article 87, and if it is omitted Article 88 treats the note as payable on sight. That is not an expiry date for the instrument.
The difference, by country
| Country | Confirmed | Not confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Bill particulars are in Articles 1 and 2, note particulars in Articles 87 and 88, cheque particulars in Article 91, the requirement that a cheque be drawn on a bank in Article 93, and the effect of a missing cheque particular in Article 92. From the entry into force of the Enforcement Law (M/237), a bill and a note are enforcement instruments only if registered on the national electronic platforms (Article 7(1)(d)), and cheques are enforcement instruments (Article 7(1)(هـ)). Entry into force is 180 days after publication on 1 May 2026. Clause Fifth keeps a bill or a note issued before entry into force an enforcement instrument for one year if it meets the conditions other than registration. | The regulation’s list of platforms. The calendar day of entry into force. A travel ban, a suspension of services, and a criminal penalty. Any limitation period. |
| United Arab Emirates | The bill of exchange is in Article 511, and the particulars of a promissory note are in Article 622, of Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022. This page does not restate either article. | The cheque-definition article number. Under review. |
| Bahrain | Under review. | No text and no article number. |
| Qatar | Under review. | No text and no article number. |
| Kuwait | Under review. | No text and no article number. |
| Oman | Under review. | No text and no article number. |