Article 33 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 33 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الرابع: إجراءات التحكيم
The article regulates hearings in arbitration, the option of relying on written memoranda alone, the duty to notify the parties of hearing dates, and the recording of minutes of each session.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تعقد هيئة التحكيم جلسات مرافعة لتمكين كل من الطرفين من شرح موضوع الدعوى وعرض حججه وأدلته ولها الاكتفاء بتقديم المذكرات والوثائق المكتوبة، ما لم يتفق طرفا التحكيم على غير ذلك.
2- يجب إبلاغ طرفي التحكيم على عناوينهم الثابتة لدى هيئة التحكيم بموعد أي جلسة مرافعة شفهية، وموعد النطق بالحكم، وأي اجتماع لهيئة التحكيم لأغراض معاينة محل النزاع، أو ممتلكات أخرى، أو لفحص مستندات، وذلك قبل الانعقاد بوقت كاف.
3- تدون هيئة التحكيم خلاصة ما يدور في الجلسة في محضر يوقعه الشهود أو الخبراء والحاضرون من الطرفين، أو وكلائهم، وأعضاء هيئة التحكيم ، وتسلم صورة منه إلى كل من الطرفين، ما لم يتفق طرفا التحكيم على غير ذلك.
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 33 explained in plain English
This article sets out the basic rules for how sessions are run before the arbitral tribunal, most of which the parties may agree to depart from.
- Pleading hearings: The tribunal holds hearings so that each party can explain the subject of the case and present its arguments and evidence. It may rely on written memoranda and documents alone, unless the parties agree otherwise.
- Notice of dates: The parties must be notified, at their permanent addresses on file with the tribunal and sufficiently in advance, of the date of any oral pleading hearing, the date of pronouncing the award, and any meeting of the tribunal to inspect the subject of the dispute or other property or to examine documents. The article does not specify how much time that is.
- Minutes: The tribunal records a summary of what takes place in the session in minutes signed by the witnesses or experts, the attendees from the parties or their representatives, and the members of the tribunal. A copy is given to each party, unless the parties agree otherwise.
This shows how important it is for each party to keep its address up to date with the arbitral tribunal, because notice is given at the permanent address on file with it. The article is linked to Article 32, which allows each party to amend or supplement its requests or defenses during the proceedings, and to Article 34, which explains the effect of the claimant not submitting its statement of claim or the respondent not submitting its written defense.
Anyone who wants to agree in advance on how sessions will run can consult a lawyer who specializes in arbitration and commercial cases when drafting the arbitration agreement.
Practical example
A dispute arose between a technology company in Riyadh and its client over the implementation of an electronic system. The arbitral tribunal decided to inspect the system at the client's premises, so it had to notify both parties of the date of the inspection at their permanent addresses on file with it, sufficiently in advance, and to record a summary of what took place in minutes, a copy of which each party receives.
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 33 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
Do I have to attend hearings in arbitration?
The tribunal holds pleading hearings, and it may rely on written memoranda and documents alone, unless the parties agree otherwise.
Must I be notified of the date of an arbitration hearing?
Yes. The parties must be notified, at their permanent addresses on file with the tribunal, of the date of any oral pleading hearing, the date of pronouncing the award, and any meeting for inspection or examination of documents, sufficiently in advance.
Do I get a copy of the minutes of an arbitration session?
Yes. A copy of the minutes is given to each of the parties, unless they agree otherwise.
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.