Article 37 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 37 من نظام التحكيم · الباب الرابع: إجراءات التحكيم
The article sets out when the tribunal continues or suspends the proceedings if a matter outside its jurisdiction arises, a document is challenged as forged, or criminal proceedings are taken.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا عرضت خلال إجراءات التحكيم مسألة تخرج عن ولاية هيئة التحكيم، أو طعن بالتزوير في مستند قدم لها، أو اتخذت إجراءات جنائية عن تزويره، أو عن فعل جنائي آخر؛ كان لهيئة التحكيم الاستمرار في نظر موضوع النزاع إذا رأت أن الفصل في هذه المسألة، أو في تزوير المستند أو في الفعل الجنائي الآخر، ليس لازماً للفصل في موضوع النزاع، وإلا أوقفت الإجراءات حتى يصدر حكم نهائي في هذا الشأن، ويترتب على ذلك وقف سريان الميعاد المحدد لإصدار حكم التحكيم.
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 37 explained in plain English
Matters that the arbitral tribunal has no power to decide may arise during arbitration. This article sets out what the tribunal does in that case.
The cases the article covers:
- A matter arises that falls outside the tribunal's jurisdiction.
- A document submitted to it is challenged as forged.
- Criminal proceedings are taken over the forgery of the document or over another criminal act.
What the tribunal does:
- If it considers that deciding this matter is not necessary to decide the subject of the dispute, it may continue to hear the dispute.
- Otherwise it suspends the proceedings until a final judgment is issued on that matter.
The effect of the suspension: Suspending the proceedings suspends the running of the period set for issuing the arbitral award, so the period of suspension is not counted against the time given to the tribunal.
Under the wording of the article, assessing whether the matter is necessary to decide the dispute is for the tribunal itself. The article does not specify the body that decides a matter outside the tribunal's jurisdiction. It is linked to Article 36, which governs the role of the expert and the examination of documents, and to Article 38, which sets out the rules the tribunal applies to the subject of the dispute.
Anyone who believes that a document submitted in arbitration is forged, or who faces an accusation of forgery, needs to consult a lawyer who specializes in arbitration and commercial cases, and may also need a lawyer in criminal cases.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh submitted to the arbitral tribunal a receipt attributed to its opponent, and the opponent challenged it as forged. If the tribunal considers that deciding the dispute depends on the validity of this receipt, it suspends the proceedings until a final judgment is issued on the forgery, and the period for issuing the arbitral award stops running with it. If the receipt does not affect the outcome, the tribunal may continue.
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 37 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
Does arbitration stop if I challenge a document as forged?
The tribunal suspends the proceedings if it considers that deciding the forgery is necessary to decide the subject of the dispute; otherwise it may continue.
Is the period of suspension counted in the arbitration period?
No. The suspension suspends the running of the period set for issuing the arbitral award.
How long does the suspension of arbitration proceedings last?
The proceedings remain suspended until a final judgment is issued on the matter that required the suspension.
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.