Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Saudi Arabia

Dispute resolution work in Saudi Arabia

The firm covers Saudi matters in cooperation with an announced partner office in Saudi Arabia. That partner office is not a branch owned by the firm, and the firm does not itself hold a Saudi law practice license; local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter in the Kingdom. Within that framework, we coordinate pre-litigation assessment, negotiation, arbitration support and litigation strategy for Saudi-connected disputes; filings and court appearances in the Kingdom are handled by locally licensed counsel through the partner office.

Saudi courts and procedure

Commercial disputes are heard by the commercial courts under the Commercial Courts Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/93 of 1441H, with filings and case management running through the Ministry of Justice's Najiz electronic platform. Judgments, arbitral awards and enforceable instruments are executed through the enforcement courts under the Enforcement Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/53 of 1433H.

Arbitration in Saudi Arabia

Arbitration is governed by the Arbitration Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/34 of 1433H (2012), which follows the UNCITRAL Model Law, together with its Implementing Regulations. The Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA), established by Council of Ministers Decision No. 257 of 1435H, administers institutional arbitration in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is a contracting state to the 1958 New York Convention, and foreign awards are pursued through the enforcement courts.

Before a dispute is filed

We start from the record: the signed contracts, notices, invoices and correspondence, and the jurisdiction or arbitration clause that will control where the case is heard. From that base we assess the claims and enforcement prospects and run negotiation where a settlement serves the client better than a judgment. For related contract work see our General Commercial & Corporate practice and Company Formation in Saudi Arabia; to scope a specific dispute, contact our team.

MENA coordination

The firm was founded in Kuwait in 1986 and has a branch in Cairo. It covers MENA matters in cooperation with partner offices in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, and partner offices in Turkey and the United States. Those partner offices are not branches owned by the firm; local licensing and advice are assessed in the relevant jurisdiction.

This page is general information, not advice for a particular entity or transaction.

Frequently asked questions

Which law governs arbitration in Saudi Arabia?

The Arbitration Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/34 of 1433H (2012), which follows the UNCITRAL Model Law, together with its Implementing Regulations. Institutional cases are administered by the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA), established by Council of Ministers Decision No. 257 of 1435H.

How are judgments and awards enforced in Saudi Arabia?

Judgments, arbitral awards and enforceable instruments are executed through the enforcement courts under the Enforcement Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/53 of 1433H. Saudi Arabia is a contracting state to the 1958 New York Convention.

Does the firm have an office in Saudi Arabia?

The firm covers Saudi matters in cooperation with an announced partner office in Saudi Arabia. That partner office is not a branch owned by the firm, and the firm does not itself hold a Saudi law practice license; local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter.

Other markets

Company Formation in Saudi ArabiaDispute Resolution & Arbitration in EgyptDispute Resolution & Arbitration in the UAEDispute Resolution & Arbitration in QatarDispute Resolution & Arbitration in OmanDispute Resolution & Arbitration in Bahrain