Article 16 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
المادة 16 من نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم · الفصل الثالث: التنفيذ لصالح الجهات الإدارية
The article requires the Enforcement Circuit, when enforcing an instrument issued in favor of the administrative body, to order the party against whom enforcement is sought, immediately on referral, to enforce within a period not exceeding thirty days from being notified.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
في سبيل تنفيذ السند الصادر لمصلحة الجهة الإدارية، تصدر دائرة التنفيذ فور إحالة طلب التنفيذ إليها أمراً إلى المطلوب التنفيذ ضده لتنفيذ السند خلال مهلة لا تتجاوز (ثلاثين) يوماً من تاريخ تبليغه بأمر التنفيذ، على أن يتضمن الأمر بيانات السند وترافقه صورة منه.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article begins the provisions on enforcement in favor of administrative bodies, that is, where the administrative body is the right-holder and the other party, an individual or an establishment, is the party against whom enforcement is sought.
- Immediate order: as soon as the enforcement request is referred to it, the Enforcement Circuit issues an order to the party against whom enforcement is sought to enforce the instrument.
- Time limit: not exceeding 30 days from the date of being notified of the enforcement order.
- Content of the order: it includes the particulars of the instrument and is accompanied by a copy of it, so that the party against whom enforcement is sought knows exactly what is required.
The instrument here, under Article 1, is the enforcement instrument covered by the provisions of the Law.
What happens after the time limit expires is set out in Article 17: if it expires without enforcement, the Circuit immediately orders disclosure and attachment of the assets of the party against whom enforcement is sought, including dues owed to him by administrative bodies, in the amount sufficient to cover the sum due under the instrument, and it may, as the case requires, order a travel ban, or bar administrative bodies and financial institutions from dealing with him, or both. That is why responding within the time limit is the most important thing for anyone who receives this order.
It is preceded by Article 15, which provides that a request for guidance does not suspend the procedures and time limits set out in the Law.
If you have a specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer specialized in administrative and enforcement cases before the Board of Grievances.
Practical example
A final judgment was issued requiring a supply company in Riyadh to return to a government body a sum paid to it without entitlement, and the body submitted an enforcement request. The Enforcement Circuit immediately issues an order to the company to enforce within a period not exceeding 30 days from its being notified, with a copy of the instrument attached.
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 16 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
How long is the time limit to enforce a judgment issued in favor of a government body?
It does not exceed thirty days from the date the party against whom enforcement is sought is notified of the enforcement order.
What does the enforcement order contain?
It contains the particulars of the instrument and is accompanied by a copy of it.
What happens if I do not enforce within the time limit?
Under Article 17, the Circuit immediately orders disclosure and attachment of the assets of the party against whom enforcement is sought, and it may order a travel ban, a bar on dealing with him, or both.
More articles on Enforcement in Favor of Administrative Bodies
- Article 17
The article requires the Enforcement Circuit, if the Article 16 time limit expires without enforcement, to immediately order disclosure and attachment of the assets of the party against whom enforcement is sought, and allows it to order a travel ban or a bar on dealing with him.
إذا انتهت المهلة المنصوص عليها في المادة (السادسة عشرة) دون أن يتم التنفيذ، أمرت دائرة التنفيذ -فوراً- بالإفصاح عن أمـوال المنفذ ضده وحجزها، بما في ذلك مستحقاته
- Article 18
Where the Law and its Regulations contain no specific provision, the article refers to the procedures of the Enforcement Law for enforcing instruments in favor of administrative bodies, and gives enforcement circuits the powers of the enforcement judge.
فيما لم يرد فيه نص خاص في النظام ولائحته، تطبق -في تنفيذ السندات المشمولة بأحكام هذا الفصل- الإجراءات الواردة في نظام التنفيذ، ويكون لدوائر التنفيذ اختصاصات قاض
- Article 19
The article allows the Enforcement Circuit to assign the requesting administrative body or others to carry out whatever procedures it sees fit, except the procedures in Articles 17 and 20.
باستثناء الإجراءات المنصوص عليها في المادتين (السابعة عشرة) و(العشرين) من النظام، لدائرة التنفيذ أن تكلف الجهة الإدارية طالبة التنفيذ -أو غيرها- بمباشرة ما تراه
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.