Article 17 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
المادة 17 من نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم · الفصل الثالث: التنفيذ لصالح الجهات الإدارية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 لدى الجهات الإدارية، وذلك بمقدار ما يفي بالمبلغ المستحق عليه في السند.
وللدائرة إضافةً إلى ما سبق أن تأمر -بحسب الأحوال- بمنع المنفذ ضده من السفر، أو منع الجهات الإدارية والمنشآت المالية من التعامل معه، أو بهما معًا.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article sets out the consequences of failing to enforce within the time limit in Article 16, which is a period not exceeding 30 days from the notification of the party against whom enforcement is sought of the order to enforce an instrument issued in favor of the administrative body.
If the time limit expires without enforcement:
- Mandatory immediate measure: the Enforcement Circuit immediately orders disclosure of the assets of the party against whom enforcement is sought and their attachment, including his dues owed by administrative bodies, in the amount sufficient to cover the sum due from him under the instrument only, and no more.
- Additional discretionary measures: the Circuit may order, as the case requires, the following:
- a ban on the party against whom enforcement is sought from traveling;
- a bar on administrative bodies and financial institutions from dealing with him;
- or both.
The difference between the two levels matters: attachment is ordered immediately by force of the text, while the travel ban or the bar on dealing is left to the Circuit's discretion according to the circumstances of each case.
It is followed by Article 18, which provides that, where the Law and its Regulations contain no specific provision, the procedures in the Enforcement Law apply to enforcing the instruments of this chapter, and the enforcement circuits have the powers of the enforcement judge set out in it.
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
Abdullah, a contractor in Al-Qassim, did not comply within the time limit with an enforcement order issued in favor of a government body. The Enforcement Circuit immediately orders disclosure and attachment of his assets, including dues owed to him by other government bodies, only up to the amount due. It may also order a travel ban, or a bar on administrative bodies and financial institutions dealing with him, as the case requires.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 17 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
Will my funds be attached if I do not enforce a judgment in favor of a government body?
Yes. If the time limit expires without enforcement, the Enforcement Circuit immediately orders disclosure and attachment of the assets of the party against whom enforcement is sought, up to the amount due.
Does the attachment include my dues owed by government bodies?
Yes. The Law provides that the attachment includes the dues of the party against whom enforcement is sought owed by administrative bodies.
Can I be banned from traveling?
The Circuit may order, as the case requires, a travel ban, a bar on administrative bodies and financial institutions dealing with the party against whom enforcement is sought, or both.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Enforcement in Favor of Administrative Bodies
- Article 16
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.
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
- 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.