Article 39 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 39 من نظام التحكيم · الفصل: في الدعوى التحكيمية
The article regulates how the tribunal issues its award by majority after secret deliberation, the choice of a casting arbitrator when no majority is possible, and procedural decisions and interim and partial awards.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يصدر حكم هيئة التحكيم المشكلة من أكثر من محكم واحد بأغلبية أعضائها بعد مداولة سرية.
2- إذا تشعبت آراء هيئة التحكيم ولم يكن ممكناً حصول الأغلبية فلهيئة التحكيم اختيار محكم مرجح خلال (15) يوماً من قرارها بعدم إمكان حصول الأغلبية وإلا عينت المحكمة المختصة محكماً مرجحاً.
3- يجوز أن تصدر القرارات في المسائل الإجرائية من المحكم الذي يرأس الهيئة إذا صرح طرفا التحكيم بذلك كتابة، أو أذن له جميع أعضاء هيئة التحكيم ما لم يتفق طرفا التحكيم على غير ذلك.
4- إن كانت هيئة التحكيم مفوضة بالصلح وجب أن يصدر الحكم به بالإجماع.
5- لهيئة التحكيم أن تصدر أحكاماً وقتية أو في جزء من الطلبات، وذلك قبل إصدار الحكم المنهي للخصومة كلها، 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 39 explained in plain English
This article explains how an arbitral tribunal reaches its decision when it consists of more than one arbitrator.
- Majority after secret deliberation: The award of a tribunal made up of more than one arbitrator is issued by a majority of its members after secret deliberation.
- When a majority is not possible: If opinions diverge and a majority cannot be reached, the tribunal may choose a casting arbitrator within 15 days of its decision that a majority cannot be reached; otherwise the competent court appoints a casting arbitrator.
- Procedural matters: The chairing arbitrator alone may issue decisions on these if the parties have authorized this in writing, or all the members of the tribunal have permitted it, unless the parties agree otherwise.
- Award by conciliation: If the tribunal is authorized to decide by conciliation, the award must be issued unanimously. Authorization to decide by conciliation is governed by Article 38, which requires it to be by express agreement of the parties.
- Interim and partial awards: The tribunal may issue interim awards or awards on part of the requests before the award that ends the whole dispute, unless the parties agree otherwise.
The article is linked to Article 40, which sets the period within which the award ending the whole dispute must be issued.
Anyone who wants to arrange these matters in advance in the arbitration agreement, such as giving the chairperson the power to make procedural decisions, can seek the help of a lawyer who specializes in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
A tribunal of three arbitrators heard a dispute between two partners in a commercial establishment in Jeddah, and the three arbitrators' opinions differed so that no majority was reached. The tribunal so decided, so it could choose a casting arbitrator within 15 days of its decision; if it did not, the competent court would appoint the casting arbitrator.
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 39 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
Is an arbitral award issued unanimously or by majority?
It is issued by a majority of the tribunal's members after secret deliberation, except an award by conciliation, which must be issued unanimously.
What if a majority of the arbitrators cannot agree?
The tribunal may choose a casting arbitrator within 15 days of its decision that a majority cannot be reached; otherwise the competent court appoints a casting arbitrator.
Can the arbitral tribunal issue a partial award before the final award?
Yes. It may issue interim awards or awards on part of the requests before the award that ends the whole dispute, unless the parties agree otherwise.
More articles on The Arbitral Award
- Article 38
The article sets the rules the tribunal applies to the subject of the dispute, without contravening Islamic Sharia or public order, and allows an award by conciliation if it is expressly authorized.
1- مع مراعاة عدم مخالفة أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية والنظام العام بالمملكة، على هيئة التحكيم أثناء نظر النزاع الآتي: أ - تطبيق القواعد التي يتفق عليها طرفا التحكيم
- Article 40
The article sets the period for issuing the award ending the dispute (as agreed by the parties, or twelve months), the possibility of extending it, and what the parties may do when it passes.
1- على هيئة التحكيم إصدار الحكم المنهي للخصومة كلها خلال الميعاد الذي اتفق عليه طرفا التحكيم، فإن لم يكن هناك اتفاق وجب أن يصدر الحكم خلال اثني عشر شهراً من تار
- Article 41
The article sets when arbitration proceedings end, provides that they do not end on the death or loss of capacity of a party, and that the tribunal's mission ends when the proceedings end.
1- تنتهي إجراءات التحكيم بصدور الحكم المنهي للخصومة، أو بصدور قرار من هيئة التحكيم بإنهاء الإجراءات في الأحوال الآتية: أ - إذا اتفق طرفا التحكيم على إنهاء التحك
- Article 42
The article requires the arbitral award to be written, reasoned and signed by the arbitrators or a majority of them, and lists the details it must contain.
1- يصدر حكم التحكيم كتابة ويكون مسبباً، ويوقعه المحكمون، وفي حالة تشكيل هيئة التحكيم من أكثر من محكم واحد يُكتفى بتوقيعات أغلبية المحكمين بشرط أن يثبت في محضر ا
- Article 43
The article requires each party to be given a true copy of the award within 15 days of its issuance, and prohibits publishing the award or any part of it without the written consent of both parties.
1- تُسلّم هيئة التحكيم إلى كل من طرفي التحكيم صورة طبق الأصل من حكم التحكيم خلال خمسة عشر يوماً من تاريخ صدوره. 2- لا يجوز نشر حكم التحكيم أو جزء منه إلا بموافق
- Article 44
The article requires the tribunal to deposit the original award or a signed copy with the competent court within 15 days of its issuance, with a certified Arabic translation if it was issued in a foreign language.
تودع هيئة التحكيم أصل الحكم، أو صورة موقعة منه باللغة التي صدر بها لدى المحكمة المختصة وذلك خلال المدة المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الثالثة والأربعين)
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.