Article 16 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 16 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الثالث: هيئة التحكيم
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 ما يسوغها حول حياده واستقلاله، إلا إذا كان قد سبق له أن أحاطهما علماً بها.
2- يكون المحكم ممنوعاً من النظر في الدعوى وسماعها - ولو لم يطلب ذلك أحد طرفي التحكيم - في الحالات نفسها التي يُمنع فيها القاضي.
3- لا يجوز ردّ المحكم إلا إذا قامت ظروف تثير شكوكاً جدية حول حياده أو استقلاله، أو إذا لم يكن حائزاً لمؤهلات اتفق عليها طرفا التحكيم، وذلك بما لا يخل بما ورد في المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من هذا النظام.
4- لا يجوز لأي من طرفي التحكيم طلب ردّ المحكم الذي عينه أو اشترك في تعيينه إلا لأسباب اتضحت بعد أن تم تعيين هذا المحكم.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article safeguards the arbitrator's impartiality and independence, through four rules:
- No interest and a duty of disclosure: the arbitrator must have no interest in the dispute. From his appointment and throughout the proceedings, he must disclose in writing to the parties all circumstances that are likely to give rise to justifiable doubts about his impartiality and independence, unless he has already informed them of them.
- Bar from hearing the case: the arbitrator is barred from considering and hearing the case in the same cases in which a judge is barred, even if neither party requests it.
- Grounds for challenge: the arbitrator may be challenged only if circumstances arise that raise serious doubts about his impartiality or independence, or if he does not hold qualifications the parties agreed on, without prejudice to what is stated in Article 14 of the Law.
- Challenging the arbitrator you appointed: neither party may request a challenge of the arbitrator he appointed or took part in appointing except for reasons that became clear after his appointment.
The practical meaning is that a party who knows of a ground for challenge before appointing his arbitrator cannot appoint him and then seek his challenge on the same ground.
The article comes after Article 15, which regulates choosing arbitrators. It is followed by Article 17, which sets the procedures and time limits for a challenge request, such as submitting it in writing to the arbitral tribunal within 5 days of learning of its formation or of the circumstances justifying the challenge, where no other procedures are agreed.
If you have doubts about an arbitrator's impartiality in your dispute, consult a lawyer specialized in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
After an arbitrator was appointed in a dispute between two companies in Riyadh, one of them discovered that he is a business partner of the other company's manager, and he had not disclosed this. This is a circumstance that may raise serious doubts about his impartiality, and it can be a ground for a challenge request, even if the company itself took part in appointing him, because the ground became clear after the appointment.
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 16 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
Must an arbitrator disclose his relationship with one of the parties?
Yes. From his appointment and throughout the proceedings he must disclose in writing all circumstances that give rise to justifiable doubts about his impartiality and independence, unless he has already informed the parties of them.
When may an arbitrator be challenged?
If circumstances arise that raise serious doubts about his impartiality or independence, or if he does not hold qualifications the parties agreed on.
Can I request the challenge of an arbitrator I appointed myself?
Only for reasons that became clear after he was appointed.
Articles this article refers to
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 14
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.
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،
- 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 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.