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Article 1 of the Saudi Board of Grievances Law

المادة 1 من نظام ديوان المظالم · الباب الأول: تشكيل الديوان

The article establishes the Board of Grievances as an independent administrative judicial body linked directly to the King and based in Riyadh, whose judges have the guarantees and duties of the Judiciary Law.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

ديوان المظالم هيئة قضاء إداري مستقلة، يرتبط مباشرة بالملك، ويكون مقره مدينة الرياض.

ويتمتع قضاء الديوان وقضاته بالضمانات المنصوص عليها في نظام القضاء، ويلتزمون بالواجبات المنصوص عليها فيه.

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 1 explained in plain English

This article lays the foundation on which the Board of Grievances rests. It defines the Board's nature, standing and seat, and ties the status of its judges to the Judiciary Law.

  • An administrative judicial body: The Board is a judicial authority specialized in administrative adjudication, not an executive arm of the government.
  • Independence: The article expressly describes the Board as an independent body.
  • Direct link to the King: The Board is not attached to a ministry or an intermediary body; it is linked directly to the King.
  • Seat: The Board's seat is the city of Riyadh.

The second paragraph provides that the Board's judiciary and its judges enjoy the guarantees set out in the Judiciary Law, and in return are bound by the duties it contains. The article does not list these guarantees and duties itself; it refers to the Judiciary Law, so anyone who wants to know them should consult that law.

Article 2 completes this provision by setting out the Board's composition: a president with the rank of minister, one or more vice presidents, and a sufficient number of judges. Anyone who has a dispute with a government body and wants to know which judicial authority is competent over it is best advised to consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.

Practical example

Ahmed heard that the Board of Grievances hears cases against government bodies, and wondered whether the Board falls under one of the ministries. This article makes clear to him that the Board is an independent administrative judicial body linked directly to the King, and that its judges enjoy the guarantees provided in the Judiciary Law.

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 1 of the Saudi Board of Grievances Law

Does the Board of Grievances fall under a particular ministry?

No. The article states that the Board is an independent administrative judicial body linked directly to the King.

Where is the seat of the Board of Grievances?

According to the article, the seat of the Board of Grievances is the city of Riyadh.

Do Board of Grievances judges have the guarantees that judges enjoy?

Yes. The Board's judiciary and its judges enjoy the guarantees set out in the Judiciary Law, and are bound by the duties it contains.

Articles this article refers to

More articles on Independence and Composition of the Board of Grievances

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.