Article 31 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 31 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الرابع: إجراءات التحكيم
The article requires a copy of what one party submits to be sent to the other, and expert reports and evidence the tribunal may rely on to be sent to both parties.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ترسل صورة مما يقدمه أحد الطرفين إلى هيئة التحكيم من مذكرات أو مستندات أو أوراق أخرى إلى الطرف الآخر، وكذلك ترسل إلى كل من الطرفين صورة من كل ما يقدم إلى الهيئة المذكورة من تقارير الخبراء والمستندات وغيرها من الأدلة التي يمكن أن تعتمد عليها هيئة التحكيم في إصدار حكمها.
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 31 explained in plain English
This article establishes the principle of adversarial exchange between the parties in arbitration, so that neither party remains unaware of the papers on the dispute that are put before the arbitral tribunal.
The article covers two matters:
- What one party submits to the arbitral tribunal in the way of memoranda, documents or other papers: a copy is sent to the other party.
- What is submitted to the tribunal in the way of expert reports, documents and other evidence that it may rely on in issuing its award: a copy is sent to each of the parties.
The article is linked to Article 30, which governs the claimant's sending of its statement of claim, and the respondent's sending of its statement of defense, to the other party and to each arbitrator, with the option of attaching copies of the documents each relies on. Article 31 extends this principle to everything submitted afterwards during the proceedings. Article 32 also allows each party to amend or supplement its requests or defenses, unless the tribunal decides not to accept this in order to avoid delaying the resolution of the dispute.
The article does not set a particular period for sending or a method of sending. In practice, a party who receives a memorandum from its opponent or an expert report should study it and prepare to respond to it within the proceedings. A party who believes that a paper was submitted to the tribunal without a copy reaching it would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
A contracting company in Jeddah entered arbitration with a project owner. The owner submitted a new memorandum to the arbitral tribunal with copies of correspondence attached. Under this article, a copy of the memorandum and the correspondence is sent to the company, and when the engineering expert's report is submitted to the tribunal, a copy of it is sent to both parties.
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 31 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
Am I entitled to see my opponent's documents in arbitration?
Yes. The article requires a copy of what one party submits to the arbitral tribunal in the way of memoranda, documents or other papers to be sent to the other party.
Do I get a copy of the expert's report in arbitration?
Yes. A copy of the expert reports, documents and other evidence submitted to the tribunal, which it may rely on in its award, is sent to each of the parties.
Does the article set a period for sending documents?
No. The article does not mention a period or a particular method of sending; it only states that sending is required.
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.