Article 19 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
المادة 19 من نظام التنفيذ · الفصل الثالث: إجراءات التنفيذ الجبري
The article allows a travel ban on the enforcement debtor at the applicant's request for up to 3 years, extendable to 6 years, and lists the cases in which the ban is lifted.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا انقضت المدة، المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الثامنة عشرة) من النظام، تأمر المحكمة بمنع المنفذ ضده من السفر إلى خارج المملكة -بناءً على طلب يقدم من طالب التنفيذ- مدة لا تتجاوز (ثلاث) سنوات، ويجوز للمحكمة تمديدها بناءً على طلب جديد بذلك يقدم من طالب التنفيذ، على ألا تتجاوز مدد المنع من السفر إلى خارج المملكة (ست) سنوات. وفي جميع الأحوال، ينقضي الأمر بالمنع من السفر بانتهاء طلب التنفيذ.
2- لا يخل صدور أمر المنع من السفر إلى خارج المملكة بسلطة الجهات المختصة في إنهاء إقامة غير السعودي، أو أمره بمغادرة المملكة أو إبعاده؛ وذلك وفقًا لما تقضي به النصوص النظامية ذات الصلة.
3- ترفع المحكمة الأمر بالمنع من السفر إلى خارج المملكة في الأحوال الآتية:
أ- إذا ظهرت -بموجب تقرير طبي معتمد- حاجة المنفذ ضده إلى العلاج خارج المملكة.
ب- إذا كان مجموع الدين أو الديون محل التنفيذ من المبالغ اليسيرة وفق ما تحدده اللائحة.
ج- إذا كانت مهنة أو حرفة أو وظيفة المنفذ ضده تستوجب السفر إلى خارج المملكة.
د- إذا كان المنع من السفر إلى خارج المملكة سيترتب عليه ضرر بالمنفذ ضده.
هأ- إذا أفصح المنفذ ضده عن أموال تكفي للوفاء بالدين محل التنفيذ ولا يحول مانع من الاستيفاء منها.
4- تحدد اللائحة الضوابط اللازمة لإنفاذ ما ورد في هذه المادة.
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 19 explained in plain English
This article governs the ban on traveling outside the Kingdom as a means of pressing the enforcement debtor to comply.
1- When and how is the ban issued?
- After the period stated in paragraph (1) of Article 18 has passed.
- At the request of the enforcement applicant.
- Its term is not more than 3 years, and it may be extended on a new request by the enforcement applicant, provided the ban periods in total do not exceed 6 years.
- In all cases the ban ends when the enforcement request ends.
2- Non-Saudis: the ban order does not affect the power of the competent authorities to end a non-Saudi's residency, or to order him to leave the Kingdom or deport him, under the relevant legal provisions.
3- Cases for lifting the ban: the court lifts the ban in the following cases:
- The enforcement debtor needs treatment outside the Kingdom according to an approved medical report.
- The total debt or debts being enforced are among the minor amounts, as the Implementing Regulations specify.
- His profession, trade or job requires travel abroad.
- The ban would cause him harm.
- He has disclosed assets sufficient to pay the debt and nothing prevents collecting from them.
4- Controls: the Implementing Regulations specify the controls needed to carry out the article, including the amount of the minor sums. To assess whether one of the lifting cases applies to a particular situation, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in enforcement cases.
Practical example
An order was issued banning Sultan from traveling outside the Kingdom at the creditor's request after he failed to comply with the enforcement order. Sultan then needed treatment abroad and submitted an approved medical report proving it. Under this article the court lifts the ban order in this case.
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 19 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
How long is the travel ban in enforcement?
Not more than 3 years; it may be extended on a new request by the enforcement applicant provided the ban periods do not exceed 6 years, and the ban ends when the enforcement request ends.
Is the travel ban issued automatically?
The article provides that the court orders the ban at a request filed by the enforcement applicant after the period stated in Article 18 has passed.
When is the travel ban lifted?
When treatment abroad is needed by an approved medical report, or the debt is minor under the Implementing Regulations, or his profession requires travel, or the ban would harm him, or he has disclosed assets sufficient to pay.
Does a travel ban prevent deporting a non-Saudi debtor?
No. The ban does not affect the power of the competent authorities to end a non-Saudi's residency, to order him to leave or to deport him under the relevant legal provisions.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Compulsory Enforcement and Travel Ban
- Article 18
The article provides that compulsory enforcement begins when 5 working days pass from notification without compliance, unless the debtor provides a bank guarantee, and permits a daily fine of up to SAR 5,000.
1- إذا مضت (خمسة) أيام عمل من تاريخ إبلاغ المنفذ ضده بأمر التنفيذ أو من تاريخ الإعلان وفق ما قضت به المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام، ولم ينفذ المنفذ ضده التزامه
- Article 20
The article provides that the court orders tracing of the enforcement debtor's assets at the applicant's request where indications of hiding or smuggling exist, and lets the applicant see data on his assets within the purpose.
1- في حال عدم تنفيذ المنفذ ضده لأمر التنفيذ بعد البدء في إجراءات التنفيذ الجبري، تأمر المحكمة بتتبع أمواله بناءً على طلب يقدم من طالب التنفيذ؛ متى توافرت قرائن
- Article 21
The article allows the court to question the enforcement debtor and anyone suspected of receiving smuggled assets where indications of hiding exist, requires a response within 3 working days, and permits compelled attendance.
1- للمحكمة -بناءً على طلب طالب التنفيذ- إذا توافرت قرائن تدل على إخفاء المنفذ ضده أمواله أو تهريبها أن تقوم بنفسها، أو من خلال أمر تصدره للإدارة المختصة أو للقط
- Article 22
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the controls and procedures for tracing assets provided for in this chapter.
تحدد اللائحة ضوابط وإجراءات تتبع الأموال المنصوص عليه في هذا الفصل.
- Article 24
The article lets the enforcement applicant sue to annul the debtor's gifts, early repayments and unusual contracts made before attachment, and declares any disposal after an attachment order void.
1- يجوز لطالب التنفيذ أن يتقدم إلى المحكمة بدعوى إبطال تصرف المنفذ ضده، إذا ثبت أنه تصرف بأي مالٍ من أمواله من تاريخ إخطاره بطلب أداء الحق وفق ما قضت به المادة
- Article 36
If an obligation to do or refrain from doing something is not performed within 5 working days, the court takes compulsory steps including the competent force, contacting the competent authority, a travel ban and a daily fine.
إذا كان محل التنفيذ فعلاً أو امتناعًا عن فعل، ولم يُنفذ المنفذ ضده التزامه خلال (خمسة) أيام عمل من تاريخ إبلاغه بأمر التنفيذ أو من تاريخ الإعلان وفق ما قضت به ا
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.