Article 36 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 36 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الرابع: إجراءات التحكيم
The article regulates the tribunal's appointment of one or more experts, the parties' duty to cooperate with them, and their right to see the expert's report, comment on it and examine the expert.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لهيئة التحكيم تعيين خبير أو أكثر، لتقديم تقرير مكتوب أو شفهي يثبت في محضر الجلسة في شأن مسائل معينة تحددها بقرار منها، وتبلغ به كلاًّ من الطرفين ما لم يتفقا على غير ذلك.
2- على كل من الطرفين أن يقدم إلى الخبير المعلومات المتعلقة بالنزاع، وأن يمكنه من معاينة وفحص ما يطلبه من وثائق أو سلع أو أموال أخرى متعلقة بالنزاع. وتفصل هيئة التحكيم في كل نزاع يقوم بين الخبير وأحد الطرفين في هذا الشأن بقرار غير قابل للطعن بأي طريق من طرق الطعن.
3- ترسل هيئة التحكيم صورة من تقرير الخبير بمجرد إيداعه لديها إلى كل من الطرفين، مع إتاحة الفرصة له لإبداء رأيه فيه. ولكليهما الحق في الاطلاع على الوثائق التي استند إليها الخبير في تقريره وفحصها. ويصدر الخبير تقريره النهائي بعد الاطلاع على ما أبداه طرفا التحكيم حوله.
4- لهيئة التحكيم بعد تقديم تقرير الخبير أن تقرر من تلقاء نفسها، أو بناءً على طلب أحد طرفي التحكيم، عقد جلسة لسماع أقوال الخبير، مع إتاحة الفرصة للطرفين لسماعه ومناقشته في شأن ما ورد في تقريره.
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 36 explained in plain English
Many arbitration disputes need technical opinion, such as in engineering or accounting. This article sets a framework for the expert's work that protects the rights of both parties.
- Appointment: The arbitral tribunal may appoint one or more experts to submit a written report, or an oral report recorded in the minutes of the session, on specific matters that the tribunal defines by a decision of its own, and it notifies each party of it, unless they agree otherwise.
- The parties' duty: Each party must give the expert the information relating to the dispute and enable the expert to inspect and examine any documents, goods or other property relating to the dispute that the expert requests. If a disagreement arises between the expert and one of the parties on this, the tribunal rules on it by a decision that cannot be challenged by any means of challenge.
- The report: The tribunal sends a copy of the expert's report to each party as soon as it is filed, giving each the opportunity to state its opinion on it, and both may see and examine the documents the expert relied on. The expert then issues the final report after reviewing what the parties have stated.
- Hearing the expert: The tribunal may, on its own initiative or at the request of one party, hold a session to hear the expert, giving the parties the opportunity to hear and examine the expert.
The article is linked to Article 35, which allows the tribunal to issue an award based on the evidence before it if a party fails to submit documents requested from it. A party who has technical comments on the expert's report would do well to submit them at the opportunity the tribunal gives, and may seek the help of a lawyer who specializes in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
In a dispute between the owner of a commercial complex in Khobar and a contractor over defects in the finishing work, the arbitral tribunal appointed an expert engineer to examine the work. Both parties must allow the expert access to the site and to the drawings, and each then receives a copy of the report to comment on it, and either may request a session to examine the expert.
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 36 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
Can I object to the expert's report in arbitration?
The tribunal gives each party the opportunity to state its opinion on the expert's report, and the expert issues the final report after reviewing what the parties have stated.
Can the expert be examined at a session?
Yes. The tribunal may, on its own initiative or at the request of one party, hold a session to hear the expert, giving the parties the opportunity to examine the expert.
What if I disagree with the expert about the documents requested?
The arbitral tribunal rules on the disagreement by a decision that cannot be challenged by any means of challenge.
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.