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Debt acknowledgement and repayment undertaking (Word & PDF)
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For a creditor and a debtor recording a sum, its source and a repayment schedule in the GCC. It covers figures and words, acceleration, the place of payment and signatures. An unnotarised acknowledgement is not, by itself, an executory instrument.
Sources: 5 official sourcesNot legal advice
What this template includes
An unnotarised acknowledgement needs a court case in Saudi Arabia
An acknowledgement of debt and a repayment undertaking, in Arabic and English, for the GCC. It records the parties, the sum in figures and in words, the source of the debt, an instalment schedule and the place of payment. It is not the promissory note template. For a demand before a claim see the legal notice, for the claim the statement of claim, and for the terms order for payment, assignment of debt and set-off. The national platform service Declare debt repayment records that a debt has been paid. It is not this template.[4] This is a starting point. Have it reviewed by a lawyer licensed in the relevant jurisdiction before you use it.
What this acknowledgement records
The debtor acknowledges a sum certain and undertakes to pay it. Write the figures, the words and the source of the debt, not “an amount on account”. In Saudi Arabia the Law of Evidence distinguishes a judicial acknowledgement from a non-judicial one, and an acknowledgement may be in writing.[1]
- Two parties, a sum in figures and in words in the same currency, the source of the debt, and either a schedule or a single date.
- Acceleration if an instalment is missed: a clause in this draft, not a rule copied out of a statute.
- Place of payment, and the law and court the parties choose. The page does not impose a forum.
- Signatures. Witness lines are optional. The page does not say witnesses are a condition of validity.
Making the acknowledgement enforceable
In Saudi Arabia, contracts and acknowledgements notarised under the Notarisation Law are executory instruments under the Enforcement Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/237 of 3/11/1447H. It was issued on 20 April 2026, published on 1 May 2026, and takes effect 180 days after publication. It replaces the 1433H law. This page does not name the calendar day on which that period ends. An unnotarised acknowledgement needs a court case.[2]
- Either notarise the acknowledgement before the competent body, or issue a promissory note on the official Saudi platform instead of this letter.[5]
- In the UAE, Article 212 of Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 lists the executory instruments. Whether a notarised acknowledgement is on that list: under review.[3]
- Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar: under review. No article number, fee or deadline on this page.
- The page states no travel ban and no criminal penalty. No such text was reviewed here.
Template text
Acknowledgement of debt and repayment undertaking
An acknowledgement of a debt and an undertaking to pay it, in the GCC. Replace every [phrase in brackets]. This letter is not a promissory note issued on Nafith. Notarising it, or suing on it, is a later step. This is a starting point. Have it reviewed by a lawyer licensed in the relevant jurisdiction before you use it.
I, [debtor’s name], ID / commercial registration [●], of [address] (the “Debtor”), acknowledge that I owe a debt to [creditor’s name], ID / commercial registration [●], of [address] (the “Creditor”).
Drafting note
Both names as on the ID or the register. An acknowledgement with no named debtor is of no use.
The debt is [amount in figures] [currency], in words: [amount in words]. If they differ, the words prevail. The sum does not include anything not named here: [interest / penalty / costs, or “nothing”].
Drafting note
One currency. Do not leave the words blank. The page states no statutory interest rate.
This debt arose from [contract dated ● / invoice no. ● / price of goods / loan / other: ●], on [date]. Of that sum, only [●] had been paid by the date of this acknowledgement. The balance is the sum in clause 2.
Drafting note
A written source. “Various amounts”, with no instrument, is weak in front of anyone who reviews the letter.
- (a) In one sum on [date]. Delete this option if payment is by instalments.
- (b) By the instalments in Schedule 1. Each instalment is paid on its date. Delete this option if payment is one sum.
Drafting note
One option. The instalments add up to clause 2. That arithmetic is yours, not the page’s.
If an instalment is [●] days late after a written notice, the balance falls due without a further notice of default, unless the parties later agree a longer time in writing. This is a contract term in this draft. It is not a rule copied from a statute.
Drafting note
Delete the clause if you do not want acceleration. A notice before a claim may have another form. See the legal notice.
The debt is paid by transfer to account [●] at [bank], or by delivery in [city]. The debt is discharged to the extent the Creditor receives the money, not to the extent it is sent.
This acknowledgement is governed by the law of [a GCC country]. The courts of [●] in [city] have jurisdiction. This template does not choose the country or the court for the parties.
Drafting note
Name one country and one court. Mandatory jurisdiction rules may override the clause. That point is under review with a lawyer in that country.
Debtor: name [●] · capacity [●] · signature [●] · date [●]
Creditor (acknowledged): name [●] · signature [●] · date [●]
Witness 1 (optional): name [●] · ID [●] · signature [●]
Witness 2 (optional): name [●] · ID [●] · signature [●]
Drafting note
Delete the witnesses if you do not want them. The page does not say witnesses are a condition of validity.
- (a) The parties notarised this acknowledgement before the competent body in [country] if they want it treated as an executory instrument where the law allows that.
- (b) Or they drop this letter and issue a promissory note on the official platform. In Saudi Arabia that platform is Nafith.[5] See the promissory note template.
- (c) If the acknowledgement stays unnotarised in Saudi Arabia, it needs a court case, not a direct enforcement filing.[2] The claim is prepared in the statement of claim.
Drafting note
The declare debt repayment service records that the debt was paid.[4] It is not this acknowledgement. A settlement agreement closes a dispute. It does not create the debt.
Notes on evidence in Saudi Arabia
Law of Evidence. Nothing is restated here that was not read in the text.[1]
| Point | Text |
|---|---|
| The two kinds | The law distinguishes a judicial acknowledgement from a non-judicial one (Article 14).[1] |
| Writing | An acknowledgement may be in writing (Article 16).[1] |
| Conclusive | A judicial acknowledgement is conclusive against the maker (Article 17).[1] |
| No retraction | The maker is bound and cannot retract (Article 18).[1] |
Notes on enforcement in Saudi Arabia
The new Enforcement Law. Issued on 20 April 2026, published on 1 May 2026, in force 180 days after publication. The page does not name the day that period ends. It replaces the 1433H law.[2]
| Point | Text |
|---|---|
| Notarised acknowledgement | Contracts and acknowledgements notarised under the Notarisation Law are executory instruments (Article 7(1)(w)).[2] |
| Unnotarised acknowledgement | It needs a court case. On the text reviewed here it does not support a direct enforcement filing.[2] |
Notes on the United Arab Emirates
Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022.[3]
| Point | Text |
|---|---|
| The list | Article 212 lists the executory instruments.[3] |
| Notarised acknowledgement | Whether it is on that list: under review. No list item is stated that was not confirmed. |
Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar
- Kuwait: under review. No article number, fee or deadline.
- Oman: under review. No article number, fee or deadline.
- Bahrain: under review. No article number, fee or deadline.
- Qatar: under review. No article number, fee or deadline.
Schedule 1. Instalments
Delete the schedule if payment is one sum. The amounts add up to clause 2.
| Instalment | Due date | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [date] | [amount] |
| 2 | [●] | [●] |
| 3 | [●] | [●] |