Article 18 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
المادة 18 من نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم · الفصل الثالث: التنفيذ لصالح الجهات الإدارية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 قاضي التنفيذ الواردة في نظام التنفيذ.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article is a referral rule for Chapter Three of the Law, the chapter on enforcement in favor of administrative bodies. It provides for two things:
- Applying the procedures of the Enforcement Law: where the Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances and its Regulations contain no specific provision, the procedures set out in the Enforcement Law apply to enforcing the instruments covered by this chapter.
- The powers of the enforcement judge: the enforcement circuits have the powers of the enforcement judge set out in the Enforcement Law.
The order matters here: one looks first to the specific provisions of this Law and its Regulations, and turns to the Enforcement Law only for what they do not specifically cover. One of the specific provisions in this chapter is Article 17, which requires, when the time limit expires without enforcement, an immediate order for disclosure and attachment of the assets of the party against whom enforcement is sought, including his dues owed by administrative bodies, and allows a travel ban or a bar on administrative bodies and financial institutions dealing with him.
As for the details of the Enforcement Law's procedures and the powers of the enforcement judge in it, these are learned from that Law itself, not from this article.
It is followed by Article 19, which 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.
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 government body is enforcing a judgment in its favor against a company, and a procedural issue arises that neither the Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances nor its Regulations address. Here the Enforcement Circuit applies the procedure set out in the Enforcement Law, and in doing so it has the powers of the enforcement judge.
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 18 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
Does the Enforcement Law apply in administrative courts?
Yes. In enforcing instruments in favor of administrative bodies, the procedures of the Enforcement Law apply where this Law and its Regulations contain no specific provision.
Does the administrative enforcement circuit have the powers of an enforcement judge?
Yes. The enforcement circuits have the powers of the enforcement judge set out in the Enforcement Law.
Does this referral apply to enforcement against administrative bodies?
The text limits the referral to enforcing the instruments covered by the provisions of this chapter, which is the chapter on enforcement in favor of administrative bodies.
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 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 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.