Article 18 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 18 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الثالث: هيئة التحكيم
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 عزلـه، جاز للمحكمة المختصة عزله بناءً على طلب أي من الطرفين، بقرار غير قابل للطعن بأي طريق من طرق الطعن.
2- ما لم يكن المحكم معيناً من المحكمة المختصة، فإنه لا يُعزل إلا باتفاق طرفي التحكيم، دون إخلال بما ورد في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة، وللمعزول المطالبة بالتعويض إن لم يكن العزل قد حصل بسبب منه.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article deals with an arbitrator who holds up the arbitration or does not perform his task, and regulates his removal.
Removal by court decision (paragraph 1): the competent court may remove the arbitrator at the request of either party, if the following all come together:
- The arbitrator is unable to perform his task, has not started it, or has stopped performing it in a way that leads to unjustified delay in the arbitration proceedings.
- The arbitrator has not withdrawn of his own accord.
- The parties have not agreed on his removal.
The court's decision on this is not appealable by any means of appeal.
Removal by agreement (paragraph 2): unless the arbitrator was appointed by the competent court, he may be removed only by agreement of the two parties to arbitration, without prejudice to paragraph (1). That is, one party cannot remove the arbitrator alone; he needs the other party's agreement or a court decision in the cases mentioned.
Compensation of the removed arbitrator: the removed arbitrator may claim compensation, if the removal was not caused by him.
The article comes after Article 17, which regulates the procedures for challenging an arbitrator. It is followed by Article 19, which requires, when an arbitrator's task ends by removal or otherwise, appointing a replacement by the same procedures followed in choosing him.
If an arbitrator in your dispute is causing unjustified delay, you can consult a lawyer specialized in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
In an arbitration between two establishments in Makkah, one of the arbitrators stopped attending sessions for months without excuse, and the proceedings were held up. He did not withdraw, and the other party refused to agree to his removal. Here either party may ask the competent court to remove him, and its decision is not appealable.
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 18 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
Can an arbitrator be removed if he delays the arbitration?
The competent court may remove him at the request of either party if he is unable to perform his task, has not started it or has stopped performing it in a way that leads to unjustified delay, and he has not withdrawn and the parties have not agreed on his removal.
Can one party remove the arbitrator?
Unless the arbitrator was appointed by the competent court, he may be removed only by agreement of the parties, without prejudice to the court-removal cases in paragraph (1).
Is a removed arbitrator entitled to claim compensation?
Yes, if the removal was not caused by him.
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 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
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.