Article 17 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
المادة 17 من نظام التنفيذ · الفصل الثاني: الإفصاح عن الأموال
The article provides that exchange of asset disclosure with other states is on a reciprocal basis, within the purpose of the exchange and without harming national security, subject to international agreements.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به التزامات المملكة بموجب المعاهدات والاتفاقيات الدولية، يكون تبادل الإفصاح عن الأموال مع الدول الأخرى على أساس المعاملة بالمثل، وفي حدود ما يحقق الغرض من تبادل الإفصاح، وبما لا يترتب عليه مساس بالأمن الوطني.
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 takes disclosure of assets from the domestic sphere to the international sphere, governing the exchange of information on assets between the Kingdom and other states.
Controls on the exchange of disclosure:
- Respecting international obligations: the Kingdom's obligations under international treaties and conventions are observed.
- Reciprocity: the exchange is on the basis of reciprocity with the other state.
- Limits of purpose: the exchange is only to the extent that achieves its purpose, so it does not go beyond what is needed.
- National security: the exchange must not result in any harm to national security.
This means information on assets can be exchanged with other states for enforcement purposes, but within these controls taken together. The article does not identify the body that carries out the exchange or its procedures.
This article comes after Article 16, which obliges the authorities supervising assets to prepare ownership databases and electronic linking with the Ministry of Justice, and before Article 18, which sets out when compulsory enforcement procedures begin and what they include. To learn whether this article can be used in a case involving assets in a particular state, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in international cases.
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 17 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
Can disclosure of a debtor's assets located in another state be made?
The article governs the exchange of asset disclosure with other states on the basis of reciprocity, to the extent that achieves the purpose and without harming national security, subject to international agreements.
What are the limits of exchanging asset disclosure with states?
It is to the extent that achieves the purpose of the exchange, on condition that it does not result in harm to national security.
More articles on Enforcement Request and Disclosure of Assets
- Article 11
The article provides that a request to enforce an instrument more than 10 years past its due date is not accepted, without prejudice to the relevant legal provisions.
دون إخلال بما تقضي به الأحكام النظامية ذات الصلة، لا يُقبل طلب التنفيذ بموجب سند تنفيذي مضى على تاريخ استحقاقه أكثر من (عشر) سنوات.
- Article 12
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the cases in which the creditor must notify the debtor to pay the right in the enforcement instrument before the enforcement request is registered.
تحدد اللائحة الحالات التي يجب فيها أن يخطر الدائن المدين بأداء الحق محل السند التنفيذي قبل قيد طلب التنفيذ.
- Article 13
The article governs registering the enforcement request with the competent department, gives the applicant 10 working days to complete any shortfall, and 10 working days to file a grievance if the request is treated as rejected.
1- تقيّد الإدارة المختصة طلب التنفيذ بعد تحققها من استيفائه المتطلبات المنصوص عليها في النظام واللائحة، وذلك وفقًا للإجراءات والنماذج التي تحددها الوزارة. 2- إذ
- Article 14
The article provides that the court orders the enforcement debtor to comply once the instrument meets its conditions, notifies him at once, and where notification is impossible announces the order, with effects running from the announcement.
إذا كان السند مستوفيًا شروطه النظامية، أمرت المحكمة المنفذ ضده بتنفيذه، ويبلغ المنفذ ضده بأمر التنفيذ فور صدوره، فإذا تعذر التبليغ فيُعلن عن أمر التنفيذ عبر الو
- Article 15
The article requires the enforcement debtor to disclose his assets from notification, allows the court to compel his agents, dealers and asset holders to disclose where assets are being hidden, and sets response time limits.
1- على المنفذ ضده أن يفصح عن أمواله من تاريخ إبلاغه بأمر التنفيذ أو من تاريخ الإعلان وفق ما قضت به المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام. 2- على المحكمة -بناءً على طل
- Article 16
The article obliges the authorities supervising or registering assets, or the entities they supervise, to set up a department for enforcement orders, build ownership databases and enable electronic links with the Ministry.
على الجهة المشرفة على الأموال أو تسجيلها أو الكيانات التي تشرف عليها وفق النصوص النظامية ذات العلاقة -بحسب الأحوال- القيام بالآتي: 1- إنشاء أو تحديد إدارة (أو أ
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.