Before you pay the deposit (عربون) to a designer or workshop in Riyadh

The real fear

When people look for a Riyadh interior designer or a custom workshop, the worry is rarely the price. It is paying a deposit and then facing delays, a result that does not match the pictures, or a seller who goes quiet. Laqeeni does not hold anyone's money, so your protection is a clear paper trail made before you pay.

What a good agreement contains

A Saudi guide to interior design contracts recommends the following, and it works for almost any quote:

1. Price in numbers and in words.
2. Specifications and materials named (fabric, wood, brand).
3. 3D images and drawings attached so you are approving what you saw.
4. A fixed delivery date, not "within a period".
5. A payment schedule, each payment tied to a stage you receive.
6. An extra fee for changes requested after delivery, stated up front.

How big should the deposit be?

We found no reliable Saudi deposit percentage, so we will not give one. It varies by seller and by job. Ask for the percentage in writing, and ask what is refundable if the project is cancelled before work starts.

Pay the right account

• Ask for the CR or Freelance Document, and for online sellers check business.sa (the Saudi Business Center).
• The Ministry of Commerce warns shoppers against paying into personal accounts. Business.sa verification needs a commercial bank account. If you are asked to transfer to a private individual, ask why.
• Keep the transfer receipt and the WhatsApp messages.

Custom work is not returnable

Under the E-Commerce Law, products made to the consumer's specifications are exempt from the 7-day return right. A custom curtain, sofa or furniture piece is hard to send back. That is why the paperwork comes first.

Red flags

• "Take the first payment and vanish": a pattern contractor guides warn about.
• Far below market, no CR: the so-called "briefcase" operators.
• Refuses to write down specs or a delivery date.
• Very low upholstery or tailoring prices, which often mean cheap materials.
• Pressure to pay "today because the offer ends".

What to do next

Send your chosen seller a WhatsApp message: "I would like a written quote covering these six points." A serious seller usually answers clearly. One who dodges has told you something.

This is general information, not legal advice.