What follows the certificate, and when
Enter one completion date and get every consequential date under your contract regime, each computed from the clause that sets it.
The seamThe certificate the project issues and the clocks the owner then has to run: defects, retention, insurance and the release of the contractor.
Start here
Find the line that describes your contract. If none of them does, use Your own contract at the foot of the list and enter your own periods.
- It says FIDIC, and it was signed before about 2018
- FIDIC 1999. Check the cover of the conditions rather than the date of the project: the edition is printed on it.
- It says FIDIC, and it was signed from about 2018
- FIDIC 2017, but confirm on the cover. The 1999 edition is still being let on new work across this region.
- A Saudi government contract
- Saudi GTPL. Use the superseded 2006 law entry only if the contract was concluded before 1 December 2019.
- Amended FIDIC, a bespoke developer form, or you are not sure
- Take the nearest standard form and replace each period with the one your contract states. Every row below accepts a figure.
The periods, the names of the events and what hangs off them are different in each. Pick the wrong one and every date below is wrong.
Conditions of Contract, second edition 2017, Red and Yellow Books
The default on internationally procured infrastructure and building work, and the basis of most Gulf public contracts.
Sub-Clause 10.1. Not the date the building was finished, and not the date operations began.
What follows the certificate
2026-10-01. projects-advisors.com/tools/handover-dates
- Contract regime
- FIDIC 2017
- Date on the Taking-Over Certificate
- not entered
FIDIC 2017
No dates yet
Each period here is cited to its clause and linked to free published commentary on that clause. Check your Contract Data and any Particular Conditions: every one of these periods can be amended, and on most Gulf contracts at least one has been.
Enter the date on the taking-over certificate above and every date below fills in.
Care of the Works passes to the Employer
awaiting the date
The contractor’s insurance of the works ends here. Check the owner’s policy starts on this date and not on the day somebody remembered.
FIDIC Conditions of Contract, 2017 edition, Sub-Clause 17.1: responsibility for the care of the Works passes to the Employer on issue of the Taking-Over Certificate, save for any outstanding work.
First half of retention becomes due
awaiting the date
FIDIC Conditions of Contract, 2017 edition, Sub-Clause 14.9: the first half of the Retention Money is certified on issue of the Taking-Over Certificate.
Defects Notification Period expires
awaiting the date
Override this with the period your Contract Data actually states. One year is the fallback, not the norm.
FIDIC Conditions of Contract, 2017 edition, Sub-Clause 1.1.27: the DNP is the period stated in the Contract Data, or one year if none is stated. Sub-Clause 11.1 runs the contractor’s obligation to remedy defects to that date.
Furthest the Defects Notification Period can be extended to
awaiting the date
FIDIC Conditions of Contract, 2017 edition, Sub-Clause 11.3: an extension may not carry the DNP more than two years beyond the expiry of the period stated in the Contract Data, and in 2017 an extension is available only where the defect results from an act listed in Sub-Clause 11.2(a) to (d).
Performance Certificate falls due
awaiting the date
New in 2017: a Notice of No-objection to the as-built records is a precondition. The asset information is on the critical path to the contractor being released.
FIDIC Conditions of Contract, 2017 edition, Sub-Clause 11.9: the Performance Certificate is deemed issued if the Engineer has not issued one within 28 days of the DNP expiring and the Contractor’s Documents being supplied.
A deemed Performance Certificate takes effect
awaiting the date
FIDIC Conditions of Contract, 2017 edition, Sub-Clause 11.9: a deemed Performance Certificate comes into effect a further 28 days after it is deemed issued.
Second half of retention becomes due
awaiting the date
FIDIC Conditions of Contract, 2017 edition, Sub-Clause 14.9: the second half is certified after the DNP expires and the Performance Certificate is issued. It is the certificate that releases it, not the calendar.
Contractor’s right of access to the site ends
awaiting the date
FIDIC Conditions of Contract, 2017 edition, Sub-Clause 11.7: the right of access extends to 28 days after issue of the Performance Certificate, where under the 1999 edition it ended on issue.
Liability for Plant ends
awaiting the date
FIDIC Conditions of Contract, 2017 edition, Sub-Clause 11.10: liability for unfulfilled obligations in respect of Plant is limited to two years after the DNP for that Plant ends, unless the law provides otherwise or in cases of fraud, gross negligence, deliberate default or reckless misconduct.
Computed from
- Tyson, FIDIC 2017: Clause 11, Defects After Taking Over, Howard Kennedy (FIDIC 2017 second edition, clause commentary; read 2026-09-25)https://internationalconstructionknowledgehub.com/wp-content/uploads/VT-FIDIC-2017-Clause-11-Defects-After-Taking-Over.pdf
- Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law and its Executive Regulations, consolidated Arabic text, third edition (third edition, the law in force until the new law takes effect; amendments to the regulations after this edition are not consolidated in it; read 2026-09-25)https://www.mof.gov.sa/Knowledgecenter/newGovTendandProcLow/Documents/%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B7%20%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AA%20%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AD%D8%A9%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B0%D9%8A%D8%A9%20-%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB.pdf
- Executive Regulations of the Government Tenders and Procurement Law (2019 Executive Regulations, amended 1 September 2026; to be re-issued with the new law; read 2026-09-03)https://www.mof.gov.sa/en/Knowledgecenter/newGovTendandProcLow/Documents/Executive%20Regulations.pdf
- Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law, Royal Decree M/128 (Royal Decree M/128 (1440), in force from 1 December 2019; replaced from about 2 January 2027; read 2026-09-03)https://www.mof.gov.sa/en/Knowledgecenter/newGovTendandProcLow/Documents/The%20Government%20Tenders%20and%20Procurement%20Law2.pdf
- Government Tenders and Procurement Law, new law published in Umm Al-Qura 22/3/1448 (4 September 2026), Arabic (gazetted 4 September 2026; in force 120 days after publication; read 2026-09-05)https://www.uqn.gov.sa/decisions-and-regulations/4001762
- NEC, Defining and managing defects in the ECC (NEC4; read 2026-09-03)https://www.neccontract.com/news/defining-and-managing-defects-in-ecc-and-liability-for-not-correcting-them
- JBCC Advisory Note 21.0, Defects Liability Period and Final Completion, edition 6.2 (JBCC Principal Building Agreement, current edition; read 2026-09-03)https://www.jbcc.co.za/advisory_notes/JBCC%20ADVISORY%20NOTE%2021.0_Defects%20before%20and%20after%20Final%20Completion%20Ed%206.2.pdf