Article 14 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 14 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الثالث: هيئة التحكيم
The article requires an arbitrator to have full capacity, good conduct and reputation, and at least a university degree in Sharia or legal sciences, the latter sufficing in the chairman where there are several arbitrators.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يشترط في المحكم ما يأتي :
1 ـ أن يكون كامل الأهلية.
2 ـ أن يكون حسن السيرة والسلوك.
3 ـ أن يكون حاصلاً على الأقل على شهادة جامعية في العلوم الشرعية أو النظامية، وإذا كانت هيئة التحكيم مكونة من أكثر من محكم فيكتفى توافر هذا الشرط في رئيسها.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article sets the conditions that must be met by any person appointed as an arbitrator:
- Full capacity: the arbitrator must have full capacity.
- Good conduct and reputation.
- Educational qualification: he must hold at least a university degree in Sharia or legal sciences.
A special exception on the qualification: if the arbitral tribunal consists of more than one arbitrator, it is enough for the university degree condition to be met by the chairman of the tribunal only. This exception does not apply to the first and second conditions (full capacity and good conduct and reputation), which must be met by every arbitrator.
What does this mean in practice? In a three-member tribunal, one of the members may be an engineer or an accountant, for example, for his technical expertise in the subject of the dispute, provided that the chairman holds a university degree in Sharia or legal sciences. A sole arbitrator, however, must meet all three conditions.
The article comes after Article 13, which requires the number of arbitrators to be odd or the arbitration is void. It is followed by Article 15, which regulates how arbitrators are chosen and requires the competent court, when it chooses an arbitrator, to observe the conditions the Law requires.
If you are choosing an arbitrator and want to be sure he meets the conditions, you can consult a lawyer specialized in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
A dispute between a contractor and a building owner in Riyadh over the quality of execution. The parties agreed on a tribunal of three arbitrators: a civil engineer, an accountant, and a chairman holding a university degree in law. This composition is consistent with the article, because the qualification condition need only be met by the chairman, while full capacity and good conduct are required of all.
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 14 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
Must an arbitrator hold a degree in law or Sharia?
He must hold at least a university degree in Sharia or legal sciences, and if there are several arbitrators it is enough for this condition to be met by the chairman of the tribunal.
Can an engineer be an arbitrator?
He can be a member of a multi-member tribunal if the chairman holds the required qualification, and he has full capacity and good conduct and reputation. A sole arbitrator must meet the qualification condition himself.
What are the general conditions for an arbitrator?
Full capacity, good conduct and reputation, and at least a university degree in Sharia or legal sciences.
More articles on Arbitral Tribunal and Appointing Arbitrators
- Article 1
The article defines three key terms in the Arbitration Law: the arbitration agreement, the arbitral tribunal and the competent court.
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 إ
- Article 13
The article requires the arbitral tribunal to consist of one or more arbitrators in an odd number, or the arbitration is void.
تشكل هيئة التحكيم من محكم واحد أو أكثر، على أن يكون العدد فردياً وإلا كان التحكيم باطلاً.
- Article 15
The article regulates choosing arbitrators by the parties' agreement, and when and how the competent court steps in, the periods to be observed, and that its decision is not separately appealable.
1- لطرفي التحكيم الاتفاق على اختيار المحكمين، فإذا لم يتفقا اتبع ما يأتي: أ - إذا كانت هيئة التحكيم مشكلة من محكم واحد تولت المحكمة المختصة اختياره. ب - إذا كان
- Article 16
The article bars an arbitrator from having an interest in the dispute, requires written disclosure of anything that raises doubts about his impartiality, and sets the cases of his disqualification and the grounds for challenging him.
1- يجب ألا يكون للمحكم مصلحة في النزاع، وعليه ـ منذ تعيينه وطوال إجراءات التحكيم ـ أن يصرح - كتابةً - لطرفي التحكيم بكل الظروف التي من شأنها أن تُثير شكوكا لها
- Article 17
The article regulates the procedure and time limits for challenging an arbitrator absent agreement, appeal of a refusal to the competent court, and the effect of a challenge ruling on the arbitration proceedings.
1- إذا لم يكن هناك اتفاق بين طرفي التحكيم حول إجراءات ردّ المحكم، يقدم طلب الرد - كتابةً - إلى هيئة التحكيم مبيناً فيه أسباب الردّ خلال خمسة أيام من تاريخ علم ط
- Article 18
The article allows the competent court to remove an arbitrator who cannot perform or has stopped performing his task at either party's request, and makes removal of any other arbitrator by the parties' agreement, with the removed arbitrator entitled to compensation in some cases.
1- إذا تعذر على المحكم أداء مهمته، أو لم يباشرها، أو انقطع عن أدائها بما يؤدي إلى تأخير لا مسوغ له في إجراءات التحكيم، ولم يتنحّ، ولم يتفق طرفا التحكيم على عزلـ
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.