Article 17 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 17 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الثالث: هيئة التحكيم
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 طالب الردّ بتشكيل الهيئة، أو بالظروف المسوغة للردّ، فإذا لم يتنح المحكم المطلوب ردّه، أو لم يوافق الطرف الآخر على طلب الردّ خلال خمسة أيام من تاريخ تقديمه ؛ فعلى هيئة التحكيم أن تبت فيه خلال (خمسة عشر) يوماً من تاريخ تسلمه، ولطالب الرد في حالة رفض طلبه التقدم به إلى المحكمة المختصة خلال (ثلاثين) يوماً، ويكون حكمها في ذلك غير قابل للطعن بأي طريق من طرق الطعن.
2- لا يُقبل طلب الردّ ممن سبق له تقديم طلب بردّ المحكم نفسه في التحكيم نفسه، للأسباب ذاتها.
3- يترتب على تقديم طلب الردّ أمام هيئة التحكيم وقف إجراءات التحكيم، ولا يترتب على الطعن في حكم هيئة التحكيم الصادر برفض طلب الرد وقف إجراءات التحكيم.
4- إذا حُكم بردّ المحكم - سواء من هيئة التحكيم، أم من المحكمة المختصة عند نظر الطعن - ترتب على ذلك اعتبار ما يكون قد تم من إجراءات التحكيم - بما في ذلك حكم التحكيم - كأن لم يكن.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article shows how a challenge of an arbitrator is requested, where the parties have not agreed on other procedures.
Steps of a challenge request (paragraph 1):
- The request is submitted in writing to the arbitral tribunal, stating its grounds, within 5 days of the challenging party learning of the tribunal's formation or of the circumstances justifying the challenge.
- If the arbitrator whose challenge is sought does not withdraw, or the other party does not agree to the request within 5 days of its submission, the arbitral tribunal must decide on it within 15 days of receiving it.
- If the request is refused, the challenging party may bring it to the competent court within 30 days, and its ruling is not appealable by any means.
No repetition (paragraph 2): a challenge request is not accepted from a person who previously submitted a request to challenge the same arbitrator in the same arbitration, on the same grounds.
Effect of the request on the proceedings (paragraph 3): submitting a challenge request to the arbitral tribunal suspends the arbitration proceedings, while appealing the tribunal's ruling refusing the challenge does not suspend them.
Effect of a ruling for the challenge (paragraph 4): if the arbitrator is ruled challenged, whether by the tribunal or by the competent court when hearing the appeal, the arbitration proceedings that have taken place, including the arbitral award, are considered as never having occurred.
This article complements Article 16, which sets the grounds for challenge, and is followed by Article 18, which regulates the removal of an arbitrator. Because the time limits are short, it is advisable to contact a lawyer specialized in arbitration and commercial cases as soon as you learn of a ground for challenge.
Practical example
A company in Dammam learned that one of the arbitrators works as an adviser to the other party, so it submitted a written challenge request to the arbitral tribunal 3 days after learning. The arbitrator did not withdraw, and the tribunal refused the request. The company therefore went to the competent court within 30 days, and the arbitration proceedings continued in the meantime. If the court rules for the challenge, the proceedings that have taken place, including the award if one was issued, are considered as never having occurred.
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 17 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
How long do I have to submit a request to challenge an arbitrator?
Within 5 days of learning of the tribunal's formation or of the circumstances justifying the challenge, unless the parties agree on other procedures.
Can the refusal of a challenge request be appealed?
Yes. The challenging party may go to the competent court within 30 days, and its ruling is not appealable by any means.
Does the arbitration stop when a challenge request is submitted?
Submitting the request to the arbitral tribunal suspends the proceedings, while appealing its ruling refusing the challenge does not suspend them.
What happens to the arbitral award if the arbitrator is ruled challenged?
The arbitration proceedings that have taken place, including the arbitral award, are considered as never having occurred.
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 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 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.