Article 20 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 20 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الثالث: هيئة التحكيم
The article makes the arbitral tribunal decide pleas of its own lack of jurisdiction, sets the time for raising them, and limits appeal of a refusal to an action to annul the award that ends the whole dispute.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تفصل هيئة التحكيم في الدفوع المتعلقة بعدم اختصاصها بما في ذلك الدفوع المبنيّة على عدم وجود اتفاق تحكيم، أو سقوطه، أو بطلانه، أو عدم شموله لموضوع النزاع.
2- يجب إبداء الدفوع بعدم اختصاص هيئة التحكيم وفقاً للمواعيد المشار إليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (الثلاثين) من هذا النظام.
ولا يترتب على قيام أحد طرفي التحكيم بتعيين محكم أو الاشتراك في تعيينه سقوط حقه في تقديم أي من هذه الدفوع. أما الدفع بعدم شمول اتفاق التحكيم لما يثيره الطرف الآخر من مسائل أثناء نظر النزاع فيجب إبداؤه فوراً وإلا سقط الحق فيه. ويجوز في جميع الأحوال أن تقبل هيئة التحكيم الدفع المتأخر إذا رأت أن التأخير كان لسبب مقبول.
3- تفصل هيئة التحكيم في الدفوع المشار إليها في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة قبل الفصل في الموضوع، ولها أن تضمها إلى الموضوع لتفصل فيهما معاً، فإذا قضت برفض الدفع فلا يجوز الطعن به إلا بطريق رفع دعوى بطلان حكم التحكيم المنهي للخصومة كلها وفقا للمادة (الرابعة والخمسين) من هذا النظام.
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 20 explained in plain English
This article provides that the arbitral tribunal itself decides objections to its jurisdiction.
Paragraph (1) - what does the tribunal decide? It decides pleas of its lack of jurisdiction, including pleas based on:
- The absence of an arbitration agreement.
- Its lapse or invalidity.
- Its not covering the subject of the dispute.
Paragraph (2) - time for the plea:
- Pleas of lack of jurisdiction must be raised within the times referred to in paragraph (2) of Article 30 of the Law.
- A party's appointing an arbitrator or taking part in his appointment does not forfeit his right to make these pleas.
- A plea that the arbitration agreement does not cover matters the other party raises during the dispute must be raised immediately or the right to it is lost.
- In all cases the tribunal may accept a late plea if it considers the delay was for an acceptable reason.
Paragraph (3) - time of decision and appeal: the tribunal decides these pleas before deciding the merits, and may join them to the merits and decide both together. If it rejects the plea, that may be challenged only by bringing an action to annul the arbitral award that ends the whole dispute, under Article 54 of the Law.
This article comes after Article 19 on appointing a replacement arbitrator, and is followed by Article 21, which provides for the independence of the arbitration clause from the other terms of the contract. To raise the tribunal's lack of jurisdiction at the right time, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
A company in Jeddah began an arbitration against another company, and the latter pleaded that the contract relied on does not contain an arbitration clause at all. The arbitral tribunal itself decides this plea. If it rejects it, the company cannot challenge the rejection immediately, but only through an action to annul the arbitral award that ends the whole dispute under Article 54.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 20 of Arbitration Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
- Commercial & Corporate Law
Frequently asked questions about Article 20 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
Who decides an objection to the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal?
The arbitral tribunal itself decides pleas of its lack of jurisdiction, including pleas based on the absence, lapse or invalidity of the arbitration agreement or its not covering the subject of the dispute.
Do I lose my right to plead lack of jurisdiction if I appointed an arbitrator?
No. Appointing an arbitrator or taking part in his appointment does not forfeit the right to make these pleas.
Can I appeal at once if the tribunal rejects the plea of its lack of jurisdiction?
No. It may be challenged only by bringing an action to annul the arbitral award that ends the whole dispute under Article 54.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 30
The article regulates the written statement of claim sent by the claimant and the statement of defense sent by the respondent, their content, attached documents, and the tribunal's right to request originals.
1- يرسل المدعي خلال الميعاد المتفق عليه بين الطرفين، أو الذي تعينه هيئة التحكيم إلى المدعى عليه وإلى كل واحد من المحكمين ؛ بياناً مكتوباً بدعواه، يشتمل على اسمه
- Article 54
The article provides that bringing an action for nullity does not suspend enforcement of the arbitral award, lets the competent court suspend it under conditions, and sets periods for deciding the request and the action.
لا يترتب على رفع دعوى البطلان وقف تنفيذ حكم التحكيم. ومع ذلك يجوز للمحكمة المختصة أن تأمر بوقف التنفيذ إذا طلب مدعي البطلان ذلك في صحيفة الدعوى، وكان الطلب مبني
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.