Article 20 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
المادة 20 من نظام التنفيذ · الفصل الرابع: تتبع الأموال
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 تدل على إخفاء المنفذ ضده أموالَه أو تهريبها. وتعدّ تكاليف تتبع الأموال من مصروفات التنفيذ.
2- في حدود ما يحقق الغرض من الاطلاع على البيانات أو المعلومات المرتبطة باستيفاء الحق محل السند التنفيذي، تُمكّن المحكمة طالب التنفيذ -بناءً على طلبه- من الاطلاع على البيانات أو المعلومات التي لديها عن أموال المنفذ ضده، وللمحكمة أن تأمر الجهة المشرفة على الأموال أو تسجيلها بتمكين من أسند إليه عمل من أعمال التنفيذ من الاطلاع على بيانات ومعلومات أموال المنفذ ضده المتوافرة لديها. وتحدد اللائحة الضوابط اللازمة لما ورد في هذه الفقرة.
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 20 explained in plain English
This article opens the door to tracing assets, a stage that arises when ordinary compulsory enforcement is not enough because of the enforcement debtor's conduct.
1- The order to trace assets: the court orders tracing of the enforcement debtor's assets if the following conditions are met together:
- He has not complied with the enforcement order after compulsory enforcement procedures began.
- A request is filed by the enforcement applicant.
- There are indications that the enforcement debtor is hiding or smuggling out his assets.
The costs of tracing assets are counted as enforcement expenses.
2- Access to data:
- The court enables the enforcement applicant, at his request, to see the data or information it holds on the enforcement debtor's assets.
- The court may order the authority supervising or registering assets to enable the person assigned an enforcement task to see the data and information on the enforcement debtor's assets available to it.
- All of this is limited to what achieves the purpose of the access connected with satisfying the right in the enforcement instrument, and the Implementing Regulations set its controls.
This article comes after Article 19 on the travel ban, and is followed by Article 21, which sets out the means of tracing in detail, including questioning the enforcement debtor and anyone suspected of receiving smuggled assets. Since proving indications varies from case to case, it is advisable for the enforcement applicant to consult a lawyer specializing in enforcement cases.
Practical example
Compulsory enforcement procedures began against an establishment in Riyadh and it did not pay, and the creditor noticed that its balances had been moved shortly before the attachment. The creditor may ask the court to order tracing of the establishment's assets because of indications of smuggling, and the tracing costs are counted as enforcement expenses; he may also ask to see data on its assets held by the court, within the purpose.
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 20 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
When does the court order tracing of a debtor's assets?
If the enforcement debtor has not complied after compulsory enforcement began, the enforcement applicant filed a request, and there are indications of hiding or smuggling out assets.
Who bears the cost of tracing assets?
The costs of tracing assets are counted as enforcement expenses.
Is the creditor entitled to see data on the debtor's assets?
Yes. At his request the court enables him to see the data it holds, to the extent that achieves the purpose connected with satisfying the right, and the Implementing Regulations set the controls.
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 19
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.
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 م
- 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.