Article 25 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 25 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الرابع: إجراءات التحكيم
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المملكة أو خارجها، بشرط عدم مخالفتها لأحكام الشريعة الإسلامية.
2- إذا لم يوجد مثل هذا الاتفاق كان لهيئة التحكيم ـ مع مراعاة أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية، وأحكام هذا النظام ـ أن تختار إجراءات التحكيم التي تراها مناسبة.
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 25 explained in plain English
This article identifies who decides the procedures the arbitral tribunal follows, that is, how the arbitration is conducted in terms of submitting memoranda and documents, hearings and the like.
Paragraph (1) - priority to the parties' agreement:
- The parties to arbitration may agree on the procedures the tribunal follows.
- This includes their right to subject the procedures to the rules in force of any arbitration organization, body or center, in the Kingdom or abroad.
- On condition that these procedures do not contravene the provisions of Islamic Sharia.
Paragraph (2) - absent agreement: if there is no agreement, the arbitral tribunal may choose the arbitration procedures it considers suitable, having regard to the provisions of Islamic Sharia and the provisions of this Law.
What does this mean in practice? Contracting parties may choose to write their own procedures, to refer to the rules of a known arbitration center, or to leave the matter to the arbitral tribunal. In every case the restriction stays fixed: not contravening the provisions of Islamic Sharia, and the tribunal observing the provisions of the Law when it chooses the procedures.
The article comes after Article 24 on the arbitrators' fees, and is followed by Article 26, which sets the date the arbitration proceedings begin, being the day one of the parties receives the arbitration request from the other unless they agree otherwise.
When comparing the rules of different arbitration centers, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
A Saudi company and a Gulf company agreed in their contract that any arbitration between them would be subject to the rules of a particular arbitration center inside the Kingdom. When a dispute arises, the arbitral tribunal follows that center's rules, so long as they do not contravene the provisions of Islamic Sharia. Had they agreed on nothing, the tribunal would choose the procedures it considers suitable, having regard to Sharia and the Law.
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 25 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
May we choose the rules of a foreign arbitration center?
Yes. The procedures may be subjected to the rules in force of any arbitration organization, body or center in the Kingdom or abroad, provided they do not contravene the provisions of Islamic Sharia.
Who decides the arbitration procedures if the parties do not agree?
The arbitral tribunal chooses the procedures it considers suitable, having regard to the provisions of Islamic Sharia and of the Law.
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 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 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.