Article 50 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
المادة 50 من النظام الأساسي للحكم · الباب السادس: سلطات الدولة
The Article provides that the King or whoever he delegates is concerned with the enforcement of judicial judgments.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
الملك أو من ينيبه معنيون بتنفيذ الأحكام القضائية.
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 50 explained in plain English
This Article sets out the party concerned with enforcing judicial judgments, which is:
- The King;
- Or whoever he delegates.
This means that a judicial judgment does not stop at its issuance; the Basic Law of Governance makes its enforcement the responsibility of the King or whoever he delegates. The Article relates to the stage after the judgment is issued.
The Article does not state which bodies the King delegates for enforcement, or the procedures, periods or methods of enforcement; these are details that the text of the Article does not address.
The Article comes in the context of the Articles on the judiciary in Chapter Six: Article 49 provides that the courts are competent to decide all disputes and crimes, subject to Article 53, and Article 51 provides that the law sets out the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council and its powers, and also sets out the organization of the courts and their powers. The courts decide the dispute, and the King or whoever he delegates is concerned with enforcing the judgments they issue.
Anyone who has obtained a judgment and wants to know how to enforce it would be well advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in enforcement cases.
Practical example
Aisha obtains a judgment obliging a person to pay her a sum of money. Article 50 shows that enforcing judicial judgments is a matter of concern to the King or whoever he delegates, while the body to which she applies for enforcement and its procedures are not specified by this Article.
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 50 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
Who is responsible for enforcing judicial judgments in Saudi Arabia?
Article 50 provides that the King or whoever he delegates is concerned with the enforcement of judicial judgments.
Does Article 50 set out enforcement procedures?
No. The Article specifies only the party concerned with enforcement and does not address its procedures.
More articles on Judicial Authority and Judicial Independence
- Article 44
The Article sets out the State's three authorities, the judicial, executive and regulatory, provides that they cooperate in accordance with the laws, and states that the King is their reference.
تتكون السلطات في الدولة من : - السلطة القضائية. - السلطة التنفيذية. - السلطة التنظيمية. وتتعاون هذه السلطات في أداء وظائفها، وفقا لهذا النظام وغيره من الأنظمة،
- Article 46
The Article provides that the judiciary is an independent authority and that there is no authority over judges in their judgments other than the authority of Islamic Sharia.
القضاء سلطة مستقلة، ولا سلطان على القضاة في قضائهم لغير سلطان الشريعة الإسلامية .
- Article 47
The Article guarantees the right of litigation equally to citizens and residents of the Kingdom, and refers its procedures to the law.
حق التقاضي مكفول بالتساوي للمواطنين والمقيمين في المملكة ، ويبين النظام الإجراءات اللازمة لذلك.
- Article 48
The Article requires the courts to apply the rules of Islamic Sharia in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah, and the laws issued by the ruler that do not conflict with them.
تطبق المحاكم على القضايا المعروضة أمامها أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية ، وفقا لما دل عليه الكتاب والسنة، وما يصدره ولي الأمر من أنظمة لا تتعارض مع الكتاب والسنة.
- Article 49
The Article makes the courts competent to decide all disputes and crimes, subject to Article 53 on the Board of Grievances.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في المادة الثالثة والخمسين من هذا النظام، تختص المحاكم في الفصل في جميع المنازعات والجرائم.
- Article 51
The Article refers to the law the composition and powers of the Supreme Judicial Council, and the organization and powers of the courts.
يبين النظام تكوين المجلس الأعلى للقضاء واختصاصاته، كما يبين ترتيب المحاكم واختصاصاتها.
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.