Article 51 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 51 من نظام التحكيم · الباب السادس: بطلان حكم التحكيم
The article sets the period for an action to annul an arbitral award at 60 days from notification of the award, and the effect and challengeability of the court's judgment, whether upholding or annulling the award.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- ترفع دعوى بطلان حكم التحكيم من أي من طرفيه خلال الستين يوماً التالية لتاريخ إبلاغ ذلك الطرف بالحكم. ولا يحول تنازل مدعي البطلان عن حقه في رفعها قبل صدور حكم التحكيم دون قبول الدعوى.
2- إذا حكمت المحكمة المختصة بتأييد حكم التحكيم وجب عليها أن تأمر بتنفيذه، ويكون حكمها في ذلك غير قابل للطعن بأي طريق من طرق الطعن. أما إذا حكمت ببطلان حكم التحكيم، فيكون حكمها قابلاً للطعن خلال ثلاثين يوماً من اليوم التالي للتبليغ.
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 51 explained in plain English
This article governs the procedural aspects of the action for nullity: who brings it, when, and what follows from the judgment on it.
First: bringing the action
- Either party to the arbitral award may bring it.
- Within 60 days following the date that party was notified of the award.
- The fact that the party claiming nullity waived its right to bring it before the arbitral award was issued does not prevent the action from being accepted.
Second: the outcome of the action
- If the competent court upholds the arbitral award: it must order its enforcement, and its judgment in this regard is not open to challenge by any means.
- If it rules the arbitral award void: its judgment is open to challenge within 30 days from the day after notification.
Note that the period is calculated for each party from the date it was itself notified of the award, and that an advance waiver of the action for nullity, such as one that appears in the contract before the award was issued, does not prevent it from being accepted. The article does not specify the body before which the nullity judgment is challenged.
The article is linked to Article 50, which sets the cases in which the action for nullity is accepted, and to Article 52, which provides that an arbitral award issued in accordance with the Law has the force of res judicata and is enforceable.
Because the period is set in days, anyone who believes they have a ground for nullity would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in arbitration and commercial cases as soon as they are notified of the award.
Practical example
A company in Khobar was notified of an arbitral award issued against it, and it had signed in the contract a waiver of its right to challenge for nullity. It may nevertheless bring the action for nullity within 60 days of the date it was notified of the award, because its waiver was before the arbitral award was issued. If the competent court upholds the award, it orders its enforcement, and its judgment is not open to challenge.
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 51 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
What is the period for bringing an action to annul an arbitral award?
Within the 60 days following the date the party was notified of the arbitral award.
Does a prior waiver of the action for nullity prevent bringing it?
No. The party claiming nullity's waiver of its right to bring it before the arbitral award was issued does not prevent the action from being accepted.
Can the court's judgment upholding the arbitral award be challenged?
If the court upholds the arbitral award, it must order its enforcement, and its judgment is not open to challenge by any means.
Can a judgment annulling the arbitral award be challenged?
Yes. It is open to challenge within 30 days from the day after notification.
More articles on Setting Aside an Arbitral Award
- Article 8
The article gives jurisdiction over an action to annul an arbitral award, and other matters the Law refers to the competent court, to the court of appeal that would originally hear the dispute, and in Riyadh for international commercial arbitration.
1- يكون الاختصاص بنظر دعوى بطلان حكم التحكيم والمسائل التي يحيلها هذا النظام للمحكمة المختصة معقوداً لمحكمة الاستئناف المختصة أصلاً بنظر النزاع. 2 - إذا كان الت
- Article 49
The article bars challenging arbitral awards issued under the Law by any means of challenge, except by bringing an action to annul the award in accordance with the Law.
لا تقبل أحكام التحكيم التي تصدر طبقا لأحكام هذا النظام الطعن فيها بأي طريق من طرق الطعن، عدا رفع دعوى بطلان حكم التحكيم وفقا للأحكام المبينة في هذا النظام.
- Article 50Amended by M/21
The article exhaustively lists the grounds on which an action to annul an arbitral award is accepted, what the competent court rules of its own motion, and the limits of its review.
1- لا تقبل دعوى بطلان حكم التحكيم إلا في الأحوال الآتية: أ - إذا لم يوجد اتفاق تحكيم أو كان هذا الاتفاق باطلاً، أو قابلاً للإبطال، أو سقط بانتهاء مدته. ب- إذا ك
- Article 54
The article provides that bringing an action for nullity does not suspend enforcement of the arbitral award, lets the competent court suspend it under conditions, and sets periods for deciding the request and the action.
لا يترتب على رفع دعوى البطلان وقف تنفيذ حكم التحكيم. ومع ذلك يجوز للمحكمة المختصة أن تأمر بوقف التنفيذ إذا طلب مدعي البطلان ذلك في صحيفة الدعوى، وكان الطلب مبني
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.