Article 53 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 53 من نظام التحكيم · الباب السابع: حجية أحكام المحكمين وتنفيذها
The article gives the competent court or its delegate the power to issue an order enforcing the arbitrators' award, and lists the four documents that must be attached to the enforcement request.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تصدر المحكمة المختصة أو من تندبه، أمراً بتنفيذ حكم المحكمين. ويقدم طلب تنفيذ الحكم مرافقاً له الآتي:
1 - أصل الحكم أو صورة مصدقة منه.
2 - صورة طبق الأصل من اتفاق التحكيم.
3 - ترجمة لحكم التحكيم إلى اللغة العربية مصدق عليها من جهة معتمدة، إذا كان صادراً بلغة أخرى.
4 - ما يدل على إيداع الحكم لدى المحكمة المختصة وفقاً للمادة (الرابعة والأربعين) من هذا النظام.
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 53 explained in plain English
An arbitral award is not enforced merely on being issued; it needs an enforcement order. This article sets out who issues this order and what is needed to request it.
Who issues the enforcement order? The competent court, or whoever it delegates.
Documents attached to the enforcement request:
- The original award or a certified copy of it.
- A true copy of the arbitration agreement.
- A translation of the arbitral award into Arabic certified by an accredited body, if it was issued in another language.
- Proof of the award's deposit with the competent court in accordance with Article 44 of the Law.
The article does not specify the accredited body that certifies the translation or the method of submitting the request. The article is linked to Article 52, which provides that an arbitral award issued in accordance with the Law has the force of res judicata and is enforceable; this article shows the route to that enforceability. It is also linked to Article 54, which provides that bringing an action for nullity does not suspend enforcement of the arbitral award, while allowing the competent court to order its suspension under conditions.
The practical side here is that the party in whose favor the award was issued should keep a true copy of the arbitration agreement, whether it is a clause in the contract or a separate agreement, because it is one of the required documents. To prepare the enforcement file, you can seek the help of a lawyer in enforcement cases or a lawyer who specializes in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
An arbitral award was issued in favor of a Saudi company against a foreign company, and the award was in English. To request its enforcement, the company attaches to the request the original award or a certified copy of it, a true copy of the arbitration clause in the contract, a certified Arabic translation from an accredited body, and proof that the award was deposited with the competent court.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 53 of Arbitration Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
- Commercial & Corporate Law
Frequently asked questions about Article 53 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
What documents are required to enforce an arbitral award?
The original award or a certified copy of it, a true copy of the arbitration agreement, a certified Arabic translation if it is in another language, and proof of the award's deposit with the competent court.
Who issues the order to enforce an arbitral award?
The competent court, or whoever it delegates.
Must a foreign arbitral award be translated in order to be enforced?
Yes. If it was issued in a language other than Arabic, a translation into Arabic certified by an accredited body is attached to it.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Enforcing an Arbitral Award
- 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)
- Article 51
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.
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
- Article 52
The article provides that an arbitral award issued under the Law has the force of res judicata and is enforceable, subject to the provisions of the Law.
مع مراعاة الأحكام المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، يحوز حكم التحكيم الصادر طبقاً لهذا النظام حجية الأمر المقضي به، ويكون واجب النفاذ.
- 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
- Article 55
The article sets when a request to enforce an arbitral award is accepted, what the competent body verifies before ordering enforcement, and the rules on objecting to the enforcement order or its refusal.
1- لا يقبل طلب تنفيذ حكم التحكيم إلا إذا انقضى ميعاد رفع دعوى بطلان الحكم. 2 - لا يجوز الأمر بتنفيذ حكم التحكيم وفقاً لهذا النظام إلا بعد التحقق من الآتي: أ - أ
- Article 56
The article assigns to the Council of Ministers the issuance of the Implementing Regulations of the Arbitration Law.
يصدر مجلس الوزراء اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام.
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.