Nafath Signature: How a Signer Proves Who They Are

When a signature matters, the question is not only "did someone sign?" but "who was it?". Nafath, Saudi Arabia's national digital identity platform, lets a signer prove who they are with the app they already use for government and bank services. Here is exactly what the sender sets up, what the signer sees, and when Nafath is the right choice.

What the sender does

When you add a signer in ilzam you choose how they will prove who they are. Choose Nafath and enter the signer's national ID number: Nafath uses that number to send the request to the right person. If a signer's national ID is missing, ilzam tells you before you send.

What the signer does, step by step

1. Open the link in the email, SMS or WhatsApp message. No account is needed.
2. Read the screen. It says "Confirm your identity with Nafath" and shows a number. A request has been sent to the Nafath app on their phone.
3. Open the Nafath app and choose the same number that is shown on the screen.
4. Confirm with face verification or the Nafath PIN.
5. Continue. The screen says "Identity verified" and the signer can read the document and sign, approve or decline.

When Nafath asks again

A Nafath check is tied to the action. If it expires before the signer acts, or the signer is about to sign, approve or decline, ilzam asks them to verify again instead of letting an old check stand. If the request is declined, or no confirmation arrives in time, the signer sees a clear message and can start again.

When a document is signed with Nafath, the signer confirms through Nafath and ilzam then applies the signature to the document; the document updates as soon as it is done.

Nafath, a code or a password?

• Nafath ties the signature to a national identity. Choose it for employment, financing and other contracts where you must be able to show who signed.
• A code by email, SMS or WhatsApp proves the person controls that address or phone. It is enough for everyday documents.
• A password suits a document agreed face to face.

You choose per signer, so one contract can use Nafath for one party and a code for another. For the whole flow, read how to sign a contract electronically in Saudi Arabia.

Questions people ask

Does the signer need an ilzam account to verify with Nafath?

No. The signer opens the invitation link and verifies with Nafath. There is nothing to install except the Nafath app they already use.

What does the signer need?

The Nafath app on their phone, set up with their national ID. The sender enters that ID number when adding the signer.

What if the signer does not have Nafath?

Choose another check for that signer: a code by email, SMS or WhatsApp, or a password. The check is chosen per signer.

Does Nafath make the signature stronger?

Nafath ties the signature to the signer's national identity, which makes it easy to show who signed. How a particular document is treated depends on the document and on the party that receives it. Read about the law.

Read the complete guide: Electronic Signature in Saudi Arabia: The Complete Guide