Article 22 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
المادة 22 من نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم · الفصل الرابع: إجراءات التنفيذ ضد الجهات الإدارية ولصالحها
The article allows the time limits in Articles 10 and 16 to be suspended for compelling reasons for up to six months in total, or by agreement of the parties for up to twelve months, and explains the effect of the suspension.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لدائرة التنفيذ -بناءً على أسباب ملجئة يبديها المنفذ ضده- أن تأمر بوقف المهل المنصوص عليها في المادتين (العاشرة) و(السادسة عشرة) لمدة أو مدد لا تزيد في مجموعها على (ستة) أشهر، ويجوز أن يكون الوقف أو تمديده باتفاق أطراف التنفيذ أمام الدائرة، على ألا يزيد مجموع وقف المهل أو تمديدها -في جميع الأحوال- على (اثني عشر) شهرًا.
2- يقف سريان المهلة من تاريخ صدور أمر الوقف، وتُستكمل من تاريخ انقضاء المدة المحددة فيه أو عدول دائرة التنفيذ عنه في أي وقت.
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 22 explained in plain English
This article deals with a party who needs additional time to enforce. The time limits meant are the one in Article 10 (notice to the administrative body: 5 days for urgent judgments and 30 days for others) and the one in Article 16 (the order to the party against whom enforcement is sought in favor of the administrative body: not exceeding 30 days).
Two ways of suspending:
- By order of the Circuit for compelling reasons: on compelling reasons put forward by the party against whom enforcement is sought, the Enforcement Circuit may order the time limits suspended for a period or periods not exceeding 6 months in total.
- By agreement of the parties to enforcement: the suspension or its extension may be by agreement of the parties before the Circuit, provided that the total suspension or extension of the time limits does not exceed 12 months in any case.
Effect of the suspension: the running of the time limit stops from the date the suspension order is issued, and it is then resumed from the date the period specified in the order expires, or from the date the Enforcement Circuit withdraws it, and the Circuit may withdraw it at any time. In other words, the part of the time limit that passed before the suspension is counted, and the remainder is resumed afterward.
Article 23 specifies what a request to suspend the time limits must contain: its reasons, a statement of the procedures, and the periods needed for enforcement, in addition to the particulars required under Article 6. It is preceded by Article 21 on settling the delay fine.
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 was notified to enforce a judgment within 30 days, and 10 days passed. It then put forward compelling reasons, and the Circuit ordered the time limit suspended for 3 months. The time limit stops from the date of the suspension order, and after the three months expire, the remaining twenty days resume. The total suspension by order of the Circuit may not exceed 6 months.
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 22 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
Can the time limit for enforcing a Board of Grievances judgment be extended?
Yes. On compelling reasons put forward by the party against whom enforcement is sought, the Enforcement Circuit may order the time limits suspended for a period or periods not exceeding six months in total.
May the parties agree to suspend the enforcement time limit?
Yes. The suspension or extension may be by agreement of the parties to enforcement before the Circuit, provided the total does not exceed twelve months in any case.
When does the time limit resume after suspension?
It resumes from the date the period specified in the suspension order expires, or from the date the Circuit withdraws it, which it may do at any time.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 10
The article requires the enforcement circuit to warn the administrative authority immediately on referral to enforce within five days for urgent judgments and thirty days otherwise, with the option of notifying the oversight body.
تصدر دائرة التنفيذ -فور إحالة الطلب إليها- إنذاراً للجهة الإدارية للتنفيذ خلال مهلة لا تتجاوز (خمسة) أيام في الأحكام العاجلة، و(ثلاثين) يوماً فيما عداها، وذلك م
- 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
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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.