Article 77 of the Saudi Commercial Courts Law
المادة 77 من نظام المحاكم التجارية · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
Final judgments that have acquired the force of res judicata are binding in what they decided, provided the parties, their capacities, and the right in subject and cause are the same, and the court applies this of its own motion.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
الأحكام النهائية -التي حازت حجية الأمر المقضي- حجةٌ فيما فصلت فيه من الخصومة، ولا تكون لتلك الأحكام هذه الحجية إلا في نزاع قام بين الخصوم أنفسهم دون أن تتغير صفاتهم وتعلق بالحق ذاته محلاً وسبباً، وتقضي المحكمة بهذه الحجية من تلقاء نفسها.
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 77 explained in plain English
This article deals with the principle of res judicata, under which final judgments that have acquired this force are binding in what they decided of the dispute.
But this force is limited, as the article provides that it applies only in a dispute:
- between the same parties, without a change in their capacities.
- and concerning the same right in subject, meaning the very thing in dispute.
- and concerning the same right in cause, meaning the very basis on which the right rests.
If these elements are not all present, for example if the new dispute is with another opponent, or the capacity of one of the parties changes, or it concerns a right different in subject or cause, the earlier judgment does not have this force in that dispute.
Of its own motion: the court applies this force of its own motion, that is, without it depending on one of the parties invoking it.
The article is connected to Article 76, which sets what the text of a judgment issued on an objection must contain, and to Article 78, which provides that where there is no special provision, all judgments and decisions issued by the first-instance circuits are appealable, except minor cases not exceeding SAR 50,000 as the Council specifies.
Anyone in whose dispute a final judgment was issued and the same dispute is then raised again should consider consulting a lawyer specialized in commercial cases to assess whether the conditions for this force are met.
Practical example
A final judgment was issued in a case filed by a company in Riyadh against a supplier claiming compensation for the delay of a particular shipment under a contract between them. The company then filed a new case against the same supplier, in the same capacity, claiming the same compensation for the same shipment and on the same cause. Here the earlier final judgment is binding in what it decided, and the court applies this force of its own motion. A claim for compensation for a different shipment concerns a right different in subject.
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 77 of the Saudi Commercial Courts Law
What does res judicata mean?
It means that final judgments that have acquired it are binding in what they decided of the dispute, in a dispute between the same parties without a change in their capacities and concerning the same right in subject and cause.
Can the same case be filed again after a final judgment?
If the dispute is between the same parties without a change in their capacities and concerns the same right in subject and cause, a final judgment that has acquired the force of res judicata is binding in what it decided, and the court applies this of its own motion.
Must the opponent invoke the force of the earlier judgment?
The article provides that the court applies this force of its own motion.
More articles on Judgment in a Commercial Case
- Article 53
If the court rules in the case based on the refusal of the person to whom the oath was administered or referred back to take it, they are not allowed to take it afterwards.
إذا قضت المحكمة في الدعوى بناءً على نكول من وجهت إليه اليمين أو ردت عليه، فلا يقبل منه أداؤها بعد ذلك.
- Article 58
The court may close the pleadings once the parties have stated their case or been given the chance to, and the case is ready for judgment; they may be reopened only by a reasoned decision, and the court may allow supplementary memoranda.
1- متى أبدى الأطراف ما لديهم في ختام المرافعة، أو مُكِّنوا من استيفاء ما لديهم من طلبات ودفوع وفق أحكام النظام، فللمحكمة قفل باب المرافعة في القضية متى كانت صال
- Article 59
Deliberation on judgments is secret among the judges and involves those who heard the case orally; judgments are issued by at least a majority and attributed to the circuit, and a dissenting judge must state their view and reasons.
1- تكون المداولة في الأحكام سرًّا بين القضاة، وإذا قررت المحكمة سماع الدعوى والإجابة مشافهة فيجب أن يشترك في المداولة من سمعها من القضاة. 2- تصدر الأحكام بالأغل
- Article 60
The draft reasons and operative part of the judgment, signed by the judges, are deposited when it is pronounced except as the Implementing Regulations specify, and pronouncement may be postponed only once, with the reason stated.
1- تُودَع في ملف الدعوى عند النطق بالحكم مسوَّدة أسبابه ومنطوقه موقعة من القضاة. وللمحكمة النطق بالحكم دون إيداع مسودته وفق ما تحدده اللائحة. 2- إذا اقتضى الحال
- Article 61
The judgment is issued by pronouncing it at a public hearing attended by the deliberating judges, and a copy of its text is delivered within 20 days of pronouncement.
مع مراعاة ما نصت عليه المادة (التاسعة والخمسون) من النظام، يصدر الحكم بالنطق به في جلسة علنية، ويجب أن يحضرها القضاة الذين اشتركوا في المداولة، وإذا حصل لأحدهم
- Article 62
The article sets the particulars required in the text of the judgment, who signs the original and when it is deposited in the case file, and refers to the Implementing Regulations the decisions for which recording the result of deliberation is enough.
1- يجب أن يبين في نسخة الحكم الآتي: أ- المحكمة التي أصدرته، وتاريخ إصداره، والدائرة، وقضاتها الذين اشتركوا في الحكم. ب- أسماء الأطراف، وصفاتهم. ج- عرض مجمل لوقا
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.