Article 10 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Arbitration Law
المادة 10 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام التحكيم
If the tribunal is to have a sole arbitrator and the parties do not agree on him, the competent court selects him at the request of whoever wants speedy action, within fifteen days of the request.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا كانت هيئة التحكيم مُشكلة من محكم واحدٍ ولم يتفق طرفا التحكيم على اختياره، توّلت المحكمةُ المُختصة اختياره بناءً على طلب من يهمه التعجيل، وذلك خلال خمسة عشر يوماً من تاريخ تقديم الطلب إلى المحكمة المختصة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 10 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations deals with the case where it was agreed that a sole arbitrator will decide the dispute, but the parties do not agree on who he is.
Conditions for applying the article:
- The arbitral tribunal consists of a sole arbitrator.
- The parties to the arbitration do not agree on choosing him.
- Whoever wants speedy action files a request with the competent court.
The rule: the competent court selects the arbitrator within fifteen days of the date the request is filed with it.
The text does not limit filing the request to a particular party; it gives it to whoever wants speedy action. The competent court is the one specified in Article 2 of the Regulations: the court of appeal originally competent to hear the dispute, except the cases excluded in the Arbitration Law.
This article is linked to Article 9 of the Regulations, which requires the request for arbitration to include a proposal for appointing the arbitrator if the tribunal is not specified and there is a sole arbitrator. If the parties do not agree on the arbitrator, the competent court can be approached under this article. This article does not deal with the case of a tribunal of more than one arbitrator.
When filing the request, you should consult a lawyer who specializes in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
Saad agreed with an equipment rental company in Dammam that a sole arbitrator would decide any dispute between them. When a dispute arose, Saad proposed a name which the company rejected, and they did not agree on an alternative. Saad filed a request with the competent court to select the arbitrator, and it must select him within fifteen days of the date his request was filed.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 10 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Arbitration Law
What do I do if we do not agree on the choice of the sole arbitrator?
Whoever wants speedy action may ask the competent court to select him, under Article 10 of the Regulations.
How long does it take for the court to appoint the arbitrator?
The competent court selects the sole arbitrator within fifteen days of the date the request is filed with it.
More articles on Appointing and Challenging the Arbitrator
- Article 4
The article requires a party asking the competent court to appoint an arbitrator to attach a copy of the request for arbitration and a copy of the arbitration agreement.
على الطرف الذي يطلب من المحكمة المختصة تعيين محكم أن يرفق بطلبه صورة من طلب التحكيم، وصورة من اتفاق التحكيم.
- Article 5
The article allows an arbitrator to step down when his recusal is requested without giving reasons and without this being an admission, and bars accepting a recusal request after the close of pleadings.
1- للمحكم التنحي عن نظر النزاع إذا طُلب رده، دون أن يبدي أسباب تنحيه، ولا يعد هذا إقراراً منه بصحة الأسباب التي استند إليها طالب الرد. 2- لا يقبل طلب رد المحكم
- Article 6
The article suspends arbitration proceedings when an arbitrator's mission ends in the cases in Article 19 of the Law, except by recusal, until a substitute arbitrator is appointed.
إذا انتهت مهمة المحكم في الحالات الواردة في المادة (التاسعة عشرة) من النظام عدا حالة انتهاء مهمة المحكم برده، فتوقف إجراءات التحكيم إلى أن يُعيَّن محكم بديل وفق
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.