Article 23 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 23 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الثالث: هيئة التحكيم
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 النزاع. ولهيئة التحكيم أن تلزم الطرف الذي يطلب اتخاذ تلك التدابير تقديم ضمان مالي مناسب لتنفيذ هذا الإجراء.
2- إذا تخلف من صدر عليه الأمر عن تنفيذه جاز لهيئة التحكيم بناءً على طلب الطرف الآخر أن تأذن لهذا الطرف في اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لتنفيذه، وذلك دون إخلال بحق الهيئة أو الطرف الآخر في أن يطلب من الجهة المختصة تكليف من صدر عليه الأمر بتنفيذه.
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 23 explained in plain English
While Article 22 deals with the interim measures ordered by the competent court, this article deals with the measures ordered by the arbitral tribunal itself.
Paragraph (1) - the tribunal's authority:
- This authority rests on the parties' agreement; the article permits them to agree that the arbitral tribunal, at the request of one of them, may order either of them to take such interim or precautionary measures as the nature of the dispute requires.
- The tribunal may require the party requesting the measure to provide a suitable financial guarantee for carrying out this step.
Paragraph (2) - on non-compliance: if the person against whom the order was made fails to carry it out, the arbitral tribunal may, at the request of the other party, authorize that party to take the steps needed to carry it out. This does not prejudice the right of the tribunal or the other party to ask the competent body to require the person against whom the order was made to carry it out.
What does this mean in practice? If the contracting parties want the arbitral tribunal to have the power to issue such orders, this should be stated in the arbitration agreement.
It is followed by Article 24 on fixing the arbitrators' fees. To draft an arbitration agreement that gives the tribunal this power, you can seek the help of a lawyer specialized in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
Two companies in Riyadh agreed in the arbitration clause that the arbitral tribunal may order interim measures. During the dispute, one of them asked for an order preventing the other from selling equipment in dispute, and the tribunal accepted the request and required the applicant to provide a suitable financial guarantee. When the other company did not comply, the tribunal authorized the applicant to take the steps needed to carry out the order.
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 23 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
Can the arbitral tribunal issue interim orders?
Yes, if the parties agree that it may, at the request of one of them, as the nature of the dispute requires.
Is a financial guarantee required from the party requesting an interim measure?
The tribunal may require the requesting party to provide a suitable financial guarantee for carrying out this step.
What if the other party refuses to carry out the tribunal's order?
The tribunal may, at the request of the other party, authorize it to take the steps needed to carry it out, without prejudice to the right of the tribunal or the other party to ask the competent body to require the person against whom the order was made to carry it out.
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 22
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.
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 إجر
- 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.