Article 22 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 22 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الثالث: هيئة التحكيم
The article allows the competent court to order interim or precautionary measures and judicial delegation, and lets the arbitral tribunal ask the relevant body to help with the arbitration proceedings.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للمحكمة المختصة أن تأمر باتخاذ تدابير مؤقتة أو تحفظية بناءً على طلب أحد طرفي التحكيم قبل البدء في إجراءات التحكيم أو بناءً على طلب هيئة التحكيم أثناء سير إجراءات التحكيم، ويجوز الرجوع عن تلك الإجراءات بالطريقة نفسها، ما لم يتفق طرفا التحكيم على خلاف ذلك.
2- يجوز للمحكمة المختصة بناءً على طلب هيئة التحكيم الأمر بالإنابة القضائية.
3- يجوز لهيئة التحكيم أن تطلب من الجهة المعنية مساعدتها على إجراءات التحكيم وفق ما تراه هذه الهيئة مناسبا لحسن سير التحكيم مثل: دعوة شاهد، أو خبير، أو الأمر بإحضار مستند، أو صورة منه، أو الاطلاع عليه، أو غير ذلك، مع عدم الإخلال بحق هيئة التحكيم بإجراء ذلك استقلالاً.
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 22 explained in plain English
This article shows how the judiciary and the relevant bodies support arbitration in matters the arbitral tribunal alone sometimes cannot carry out.
Paragraph (1) - interim or precautionary measures: the competent court may order them in two cases:
- At the request of one of the parties to arbitration before the start of the arbitration proceedings.
- At the request of the arbitral tribunal during the arbitration proceedings.
These measures may be withdrawn in the same way. All of this applies unless the parties agree otherwise.
Paragraph (2) - judicial delegation: the competent court may, at the request of the arbitral tribunal, order judicial delegation.
Paragraph (3) - requesting help: the arbitral tribunal may ask the relevant body to help it with the arbitration proceedings as it sees fit for the proper conduct of the arbitration, such as summoning a witness or expert, or ordering a document or a copy of it to be produced or inspected. This does not prejudice the tribunal's right to carry out these steps itself.
Note that a party's request to the court directly is limited to the stage before the arbitration starts, while during it the request comes from the arbitral tribunal. Article 23 follows, allowing the parties to agree to enable the arbitral tribunal itself to order interim measures.
If you fear losing your right before the arbitration starts, consult a lawyer specialized in arbitration and commercial cases about requesting interim measures.
Practical example
A company in Jeddah fears that its debtor will move the goods in dispute out of the Kingdom before the arbitration starts. Under paragraph (1), it can ask the competent court to order a precautionary measure before the start of the arbitration proceedings, unless the parties have agreed otherwise.
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 22 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
Can a precautionary attachment be requested from the court before the arbitration starts?
Yes. The competent court may order interim or precautionary measures at the request of one of the parties before the start of the arbitration proceedings, unless the parties agree otherwise.
Who requests interim measures while the arbitration is under way?
Paragraph (1) provides that during the proceedings the request comes from the arbitral tribunal.
Can the arbitral tribunal summon a witness?
It may ask the relevant body to help it in summoning a witness or expert, without prejudice to its right to do so itself.
More articles on Arbitration Procedures
- Article 4
The article allows the parties, where they may choose a procedure, to authorize others, such as an individual or an arbitration center, to choose it.
في الأحوال التي يجيز فيها هذا النظام لطرفي التحكيم اختيار الإجراء الواجب الاتباع في مسألة معينة، فإن ذلك يضمن حقهما في الترخيص للغير في اختيار هذا الإجراء، ويعد
- Article 6
The article regulates how notices between the parties to arbitration are delivered when they have no special agreement, and excludes judicial notices concerning annulment of an arbitral award.
1 - إذا لم يكن هناك اتفاق خاص بين طرفي التحكيم في شأن الإبلاغات فيتم تسليم الإبلاغ إلى المرسل إليه شخصيًّا - أو من ينوب عنه - أو إرساله إلى عنوانه البريدي المحد
- Article 7
The article treats a party's continuing with arbitration while aware of a violation, without objecting within the agreed time or within 30 days, as a waiver of his right to object.
إذا استمر أحد طرفي التحكيم في إجراءات التحكيم ـ مع علمه بوقوع مخالفة لحكم من أحكام هذا النظام مما يجوز الاتفاق على مخالفته أو لشرط في اتفاق التحكيم ـ ولم يقدم ا
- Article 23
The article allows the parties to agree to let the arbitral tribunal order interim or precautionary measures, with a possible financial guarantee, and regulates what happens if an order is not complied with.
1- يجوز لطرفي التحكيم الاتفاق على أن يكون لهيئة التحكيم - بناءً على طلب أحدهما - أن تأمر أيًّا منهما باتخاذ ما تراه من تدابير مؤقتة أو تحفظية تقتضيها طبيعة النز
- Article 25
The article gives the parties to arbitration the right to agree on its procedures, including the rules of any arbitration center, failing which the arbitral tribunal chooses suitable procedures.
1- لطرفي التحكيم الاتفاق على الإجراءات التي تتبعها هيئة التحكيم، بما في ذلك حقهما في إخضاع هذه الإجراءات للقواعد النافذة في أي منظمة، أو هيئة، أو مركز تحكيم في
- Article 26
The article sets the start of arbitration proceedings as the day one party receives the arbitration request from the other, unless the parties agree otherwise.
تبدأ إجراءات التحكيم من اليوم الذي يتسلم فيه أحد طرفي التحكيم طلب التحكيم من الطرف الآخر، ما لم يتفق طرفا التحكيم على غير ذلك.
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.