Article 8 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
المادة 8 من نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم · الفصل الأول: رفع طلب التنفيذ وقيده
The article requires demanding performance from the debtor before an enforcement request within ten years, does not accept the request before thirty days from the demand, and sets five days for urgent judgments.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يجب على صاحب الشأن -قبل رفع طلب التنفيذ- أن يطالب من عليه الحق -الوارد في السند- بالأداء، وذلك خلال مدة لا تتجاوز (عشر) سنوات من تاريخ اكتساب الحكم الصفة النهائية، أو من تاريخ نشوء الحق الوارد في السندات التنفيذية الأخرى.
2- لا يقبل طلب التنفيذ قبل مضي ثلاثين يوماً من تاريخ المطالبة بالأداء، فإذا مضت هذه المهلة دون أن يتم التنفيذ، أو صرح خلالها المطالَب بالأداء بما يفيد الرفض، فلصاحب الشأن أن يتقدم بطلبه إلى المحكمة المختصة خلال ما تبقى من المدة المذكورة في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة أو في اليوم التالي لانقضاء مهلة (الثلاثين) يوماً، أيهما أطول.
3- تكون المهلة المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة (خمسة) أيام إذا كان المطلوب تنفيذه حكماً عاجلاً، ما لم يحدد الحكم العاجل مهلة أقل.
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 8 explained in plain English
This article sets a mandatory step before an enforcement request and periods that must be observed:
- Demand performance first: The interested person must, before filing the enforcement request, demand performance from the person owing the right stated in the instrument, within a period not exceeding 10 years from the date the judgment became final, or from the date the right arose in the other enforcement instruments.
- Waiting 30 days: The enforcement request is not accepted before 30 days have passed from the date of the demand. If the period passes without enforcement, or the person demanded states during it something indicating refusal, the interested person may submit their request to the competent court within the remainder of the ten-year period, or on the day after the thirty-day period ends, whichever is longer.
- Urgent judgment: The period is 5 days instead of 30 days if what is to be enforced is an urgent judgment, unless the urgent judgment sets a shorter period.
The phrase "whichever is longer" protects someone who demands near the end of the ten years, so their right to submit the request is not lost because of the waiting period.
Article 9 shows that non-acceptance of the enforcement request because these periods have passed does not result in the extinguishment of the obligation, nor in the non-application of the provisions of Part Four of the Law. As for registering the statement after it is submitted, Article 7 regulates it.
If you have a specific case, it is best to consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases and enforcement cases before the Board of Grievances.
Practical example
Noura obtained a final judgment against an administrative authority ordering payment of an amount to her. She demanded performance from the authority in writing, then waited 30 days without the amount being paid. After that she is entitled to submit the enforcement request to the competent court within the remainder of the ten years. If her judgment were urgent, the period would be only 5 days unless the judgment sets a shorter period.
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 8 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
Must a government body be asked for performance before filing an enforcement request?
Yes. The interested person must, before filing the enforcement request, demand performance from the person owing the right.
What is the time limit for demanding enforcement of a Board of Grievances judgment?
Not exceeding ten years from the date the judgment became final, or from the date the right arose in the other instruments.
When is an enforcement request accepted after the demand?
Not before thirty days have passed from the demand. If it passes without enforcement, or the person demanded states refusal, the interested person may submit their request. The period is five days for an urgent judgment unless it sets a shorter one.
Is the right lost if the period is missed?
Article 9 provides that non-acceptance of the request because these periods passed does not result in extinguishment of the obligation.
More articles on Enforcement Request and Time Limits
- Article 6
The article provides that an enforcement request is filed by a statement lodged with the competent court, including the applicant's or representative's details, the instrument's details, and whatever the Regulations specify.
يرفع طلب التنفيذ بصحيفة يودعها طالب التنفيذ لدى المحكمة المختصة، على أن تتضمن الصحيفة: بيانات رافع الطلب أو من يمثله، وبيانات السند، وأية بيانات أو مرفقات أخرى
- Article 7
The article regulates registering the enforcement request statement and referring it, a twenty-day period to make up deficiencies, and a grievance against non-registration before the president of the Court within fifteen days.
1- تقيد الإدارة المختصة في المحكمة صحيفة طلب التنفيذ إذا كانت مستوفية المطلوب وفقاً للمادة (السادسة) من النظام، وتحيلها -فور قيدها- إلى دائرة التنفيذ. وإذا قررت
- Article 9
The article provides that non-acceptance of an enforcement request because the Article 8 periods passed does not extinguish the obligation or prevent applying the provisions of Part Four of the Law.
لا يترتب على عدم قبول طلب التنفيذ -لفوات المدد المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثامنة) من النظام- انقضاء الالتزام، أو عدم تطبيق أحكام الباب (الرابع) من النظام.
- Article 24
The article allows the enforcement requester to abandon his request before the Enforcement Circuit at any stage; the request and the procedures taken on its basis lapse, without preventing a new request from being filed.
لطالب التنفيذ أن يقرر أمام دائرة التنفيذ ترك طلبه في أي مرحلة كان عليها، ويترتب على الترك زوال طلب التنفيذ وما تم من إجراءات بناءً عليه، ولا يمنع ذلك من رفع طلب
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.