Article 30 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 30 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الرابع: إجراءات التحكيم
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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، وعنوانه، واسم المدعى عليه، وعنوانه، وشرح لوقائع الدعوى، وطلباته، وأسانيده، وكل أمر آخر يوجب اتفاق الطرفين ذكره في هذا البيان.
2- يرسل المدعى عليه خلال الميعاد المتفق عليه بين الطرفين، أو الذي تعينه هيئة التحكيم إلى المدعي وإلى كل واحد من المحكمين ؛ جواباً مكتوباً بدفاعه رداً على ما جاء في بيان الدعوى. ولـه أن يضمن جوابه أي طلب متصل بموضوع النزاع، أو أن يتمسك بحق ناشئ منه بقصد الدفع بالمقاصة، وله ذلك ولو في مرحلة لاحقة من الإجراءات إذا رأت هيئة التحكيم أن الظروف تسوغ التأخير.
3- يجوز لكل واحد من الطرفين أن يرفق ببيان الدعوى أو بجوابه عليها ـ على حسب الأحوال ـ صوراً من الوثائق التي يستند إليها، وأن يشير إلى كل الوثائق أو بعضها، وأدلة الإثبات التي يعتزم تقديمها. ولا يُخل هذا بحق هيئة التحكيم في أي مرحلة كانت عليها الدعوى في طلب تقديم أصول المستندات أو الوثائق التي يستند إليها أي من طرفي الدعوى، أو صور منها.
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 30 explained in plain English
This article sets out the first stage of the exchange of memoranda in arbitration.
Paragraph (1) – the statement of claim: Within the period agreed by the parties or set by the arbitral tribunal, the claimant sends the respondent and each arbitrator a written statement of its claim that includes:
- Its name and address, and the name and address of the respondent.
- An account of the facts of the case.
- Its requests and the grounds for them.
- Any other matter that the parties' agreement requires to be stated.
Paragraph (2) – the statement of defense: Within the period agreed by the parties or set by the tribunal, the respondent sends the claimant and each arbitrator a written statement of defense in response to the statement of claim. It may include in its statement any request connected with the subject of the dispute, or rely on a right arising from it in order to raise a set-off defense. It may do so even at a later stage if the tribunal considers that the circumstances justify the delay.
Paragraph (3) – documents: Each party may attach to its statement of claim or defense copies of the documents it relies on, and may refer to all or some of the documents and evidence it intends to submit. This does not affect the tribunal's right, at any stage, to request the originals of the documents or papers, or copies of them.
The article follows Article 29 on the language of arbitration, so the statement of claim and statement of defense are written in the language that applies. It is followed by Article 31, which requires a copy of what one party submits to be sent to the other party, and a copy of the expert reports, documents and evidence submitted to the tribunal, which it may rely on, to be sent to each party.
To prepare a complete statement of claim or defense, it is advisable to seek the help of a lawyer who specializes in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
A contracting company in Riyadh began arbitration against a project owner, claiming overdue payments. It sent its statement of claim to the owner and to each arbitrator within the period set by the tribunal, together with copies of the invoices. In its defense, the owner claimed delay penalties against the company connected with the same contract and relied on set-off between them and the payments owed, which paragraph (2) allows.
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 30 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
What must a statement of claim in arbitration include?
The claimant's name and address, the respondent's name and address, an account of the facts of the case, the requests and grounds, and any other matter that the parties' agreement requires to be stated.
Can the respondent make counterclaims?
Yes. It may include in its statement any request connected with the subject of the dispute, or rely on a right arising from it in order to raise a set-off defense.
Can the counterclaim be submitted later?
Yes, even at a later stage of the proceedings, if the arbitral tribunal considers that the circumstances justify the delay.
Are copies of documents enough?
Copies of documents may be attached, and the arbitral tribunal may, at any stage, request the originals of the documents or papers, or copies of them.
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 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
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.