-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 uCJjxkeuKjR8+cwbHjl/yQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001182778-03-000021.txt : 20031002
<SEC-HEADER>0001182778-03-000021.hdr.sgml : 20031002
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031002085742
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001182778-03-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031002

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			XL CAPITAL LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000875159
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURETY INSURANCE [6351]
		IRS NUMBER:				980191089
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		XL HOUSE
		STREET 2:		ONE BERMUDIANA ROAD
		CITY:			HAMILTON HM11 BERMUD
		STATE:			D2
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412928515

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CAHILL GORDON & REINDEL(IMMANUEL KOHN)
		STREET 2:		80 PINE STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORKI
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10005

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EXEL LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950720

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OHARA BRIAN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182778

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10804
		FILM NUMBER:		03922167

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O XL CAPITAL LTD
		STREET 2:		XL HOUSE, ONE BERMUDIANA ROAD
		CITY:			HAILTON BERMUDA
		STATE:			B9
		ZIP:			HMJX
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412947100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O XL CAPITAL LTD HOUSE
		STREET 2:		ONE BERMUDIANA ROAD
		CITY:			HAMILTON BERMUDA
		STATE:			B9
		ZIP:			00000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000875159</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>XL CAPITAL LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OHARA BRIAN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O XL CAPITAL LTD HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE BERMUDIANA ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON BERMUDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>B9</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-09-15</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>200.00</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>381272.00</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-10-01</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>40000.00</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>78.3168</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>341272.00</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on Novembe
r 27, 2002.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Brian M. O'Hara</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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