Article 1 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 1 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
The article defines three key terms in the Arbitration Law: the arbitration agreement, the arbitral tribunal and the competent court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تدل العبارات الآتية الواردة في هذا النظام على المعاني الموضحة أمامها، ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك :
1 - اتفاق التحكيم : هو اتفاق بين طرفين أو أكثر على أن يحيلا إلى التحكيم جميع أو بعض المنازعات المحددة التي نشأت أو قد تنشأ بينهما في شأن علاقة نظامية محددة، تعاقدية كانت أم غير تعاقدية، سواءً أكان اتفاق التحكيم في صورة شرط تحكيم وارد في عقد، أم في صورة مشارطة تحكيم مستقلة.
2 - هيئة التحكيم : هي المحكم الفرد أو الفريق من المحكمين، الذي يفصل في النزاع المحال إلى التحكيم.
3 - المحكمة المختصة : هي المحكمة صاحبة الولاية نظاماً بالفصل في المنازعات التي اتفق على التحكيم فيها.
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 1 explained in plain English
This article sets the meanings of a number of expressions wherever they appear in the Arbitration Law, unless the context requires another meaning. Understanding these definitions is necessary for reading the rest of the Law's articles.
- Arbitration agreement: an agreement between two or more parties to refer all or some disputes to arbitration instead of the courts. It covers disputes that have actually arisen or that may arise in the future, provided they relate to a specific legal relationship, whether contractual (such as a supply contract) or non-contractual. The agreement may take two forms: an arbitration clause written into a contract, or a separate submission agreement independent of the contract.
- Arbitral tribunal: the body that decides the dispute referred to arbitration, which may be a sole arbitrator or a panel of arbitrators.
- Competent court: the court that has jurisdiction under the law to decide the disputes the parties agreed to arbitrate.
These definitions are connected with Article 2, which sets the scope of the Law; it shows that its provisions apply to any arbitration conducted in the Kingdom whatever the nature of the legal relationship, or to international commercial arbitration conducted abroad if its parties agree to subject it to the Law, and do not apply to personal status disputes and matters in which conciliation is not permitted.
If you are drafting a contract and want to be sure the wording of its arbitration clause serves the purpose, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in arbitration and commercial cases.
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 1 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
What is the difference between an arbitration clause and a submission agreement?
An arbitration clause appears among the terms of a contract, while a submission agreement is an agreement independent of the contract. Both are forms of arbitration agreement under the article.
Does an arbitration agreement cover future disputes?
Yes. The definition covers disputes that have arisen or that may arise between the parties in respect of a specific legal relationship.
Must an arbitral tribunal consist of several arbitrators?
No. An arbitral tribunal may be a sole arbitrator or a panel of arbitrators.
More articles on Scope and General Provisions of Arbitration
- Article 2
The article sets the scope of the Arbitration Law and excludes personal status disputes and matters in which conciliation is not permitted.
مع عدم الإخلال بأحكام الشريعة الإسلامية وأحكام الاتفاقيات الدولية التي تكون المملكة طرفاً فيها ؛ تسري أحكام هذا النظام على كل تحكيم، أياً كانت طبيعة العلاقة الن
- Article 3
The article sets out when arbitration is international under the Law, provided its subject is a dispute relating to international trade.
يكون التحكيم دولياً في حكم هذا النظام إذا كان موضوعه نزاعاً يتعلق بالتجارة الدولية، وذلك في الأحوال الآتية: 1 - إذا كان المركز الرئيس لأعمال كل من طرفي التحكيم
- Article 4
The article allows the parties, where they may choose a procedure, to authorize others, such as an individual or an arbitration center, to choose it.
في الأحوال التي يجيز فيها هذا النظام لطرفي التحكيم اختيار الإجراء الواجب الاتباع في مسألة معينة، فإن ذلك يضمن حقهما في الترخيص للغير في اختيار هذا الإجراء، ويعد
- Article 5
The article requires applying the provisions of any document, such as a model contract or international agreement, to which the parties agree to subject their relationship, so long as it does not contravene Islamic Sharia.
إذا اتفق طرفا التحكيم على إخضاع العلاقة بينهما لأحكام أي وثيقة (عقد نموذجي، أو اتفاقية دولية أو غيرهما)، وجب العمل بأحكام هذه الوثيقة بما تشمله من أحكام خاصة با
- Article 6
The article regulates how notices between the parties to arbitration are delivered when they have no special agreement, and excludes judicial notices concerning annulment of an arbitral award.
1 - إذا لم يكن هناك اتفاق خاص بين طرفي التحكيم في شأن الإبلاغات فيتم تسليم الإبلاغ إلى المرسل إليه شخصيًّا - أو من ينوب عنه - أو إرساله إلى عنوانه البريدي المحد
- Article 7
The article treats a party's continuing with arbitration while aware of a violation, without objecting within the agreed time or within 30 days, as a waiver of his right to object.
إذا استمر أحد طرفي التحكيم في إجراءات التحكيم ـ مع علمه بوقوع مخالفة لحكم من أحكام هذا النظام مما يجوز الاتفاق على مخالفته أو لشرط في اتفاق التحكيم ـ ولم يقدم ا
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.