Article 55 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
المادة 55 من نظام التحكيم · الباب السابع: حجية أحكام المحكمين وتنفيذها
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 - أنه لا يتعارض مع حكم أو قرار صادر من محكمة أو لجنة أو هيئة لها ولاية الفصل في موضوع النزاع في المملكة العربية السعودية.
ب - أنه لا يتضمن ما يخالف أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية والنظام العام بالمملكة، وإذا أمكن تجزئة الحكم فيما يتضمنه من مخالفة، جاز الأمر بتنفيذ الجزء الباقي غير المخالف.
ج - أنه قد أبلغ للمحكوم عليه إبلاغاً صحيحاً.
3 - لا يجوز التظلم من الأمر الصادر بتنفيذ حكم التحكيم، أما الأمر الصادر برفض التنفيذ فيجوز التظلم منه إلى الجهة المختصة خلال ثلاثين يوماً من تاريخ صدوره.
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 55 explained in plain English
This article sets the conditions that must be met before an order to enforce the arbitral award is issued.
First: timing of the request — a request for enforcement is not accepted unless the period for bringing an action to annul the award has expired.
Second: what must be verified before ordering enforcement:
- That the award does not conflict with a judgment or decision issued by a court, committee or body that has jurisdiction to decide the subject of the dispute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- That it does not contain anything contrary to the provisions of Islamic Sharia and public order in the Kingdom; if the award can be divided as to the part that contains a violation, enforcement of the remaining non-violating part may be ordered.
- That it was properly notified to the party against whom it was issued.
Third: objection
- An objection may not be brought against the order enforcing the arbitral award.
- An objection may be brought against an order refusing enforcement before the competent body within 30 days of the date it was issued.
The article is linked to Article 54, which provides that bringing an action for nullity does not suspend enforcement of the arbitral award, and allows the competent court to order its suspension if requested in the statement of claim and based on serious grounds. This article does not specify the body competent to hear the objection.
The party in whose favor the award was issued should make sure that it was properly notified to the party against whom it was issued, because that is one of the conditions for the enforcement order. To follow up an enforcement request or an objection to its refusal, you can consult a lawyer in enforcement cases or a lawyer who specializes in arbitration and commercial cases.
Practical example
A company in Dammam submitted a request to enforce an arbitral award issued in its favor, and it turned out that part of the award contains something contrary to public order in the Kingdom, while the rest of the award is sound and can be separated. In this case, enforcement of the non-violating part may be ordered. If an order is issued refusing enforcement entirely, the company may object to it before the competent body within 30 days.
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 55 of the Saudi Arbitration Law
When can enforcement of an arbitral award be requested?
A request for enforcement is not accepted unless the period for bringing an action to annul the award has expired.
Can enforcement of an arbitral award be refused?
Enforcement is not ordered except after verifying that the award does not conflict with a judgment or decision of a body with jurisdiction in the Kingdom, does not violate Sharia and public order, and was properly notified to the party against whom it was issued.
Can an objection be brought against refusal to enforce an arbitral award?
Yes. An objection may be brought against the order refusing enforcement before the competent body within 30 days of the date it was issued, whereas the enforcement order itself may not be objected 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 53
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.
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 اتفا
- 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 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.