Article 39 of the Saudi Enforcement Law

This article sets a special rule for enforcing judgments on custody and visitation:

• Compulsory enforcement: An enforceable instrument issued on custody or visitation is enforced compulsorily, even if this leads to using the competent force and entering homes as circumstances require.
• Re-enforcement: The enforceable instrument is re-enforced whenever necessary, so its effect does not end with a single enforcement if refusal is repeated.
• Direct enforcement against the person refusing: The direct enforcement provisions apply to a person who refuses to comply in personal status matters, under rules set by the Implementing Regulations that take into account the nature of personal status matters and the circumstances of enforcement.

The article does not detail these rules, nor does it state specifically when the competent force is resorted to or homes are entered; it ties this to what circumstances require and refers the rules to the Implementing Regulations.

This article follows Article 38, which provides that personal status instruments are enforced by the methods set out in the Law and the Implementing Regulations, and that the Implementing Regulations set out the procedures for enforcing instruments involving periodic payments. It is followed by Article 40, which requires the court, when enforcing an instrument on visiting a child in custody, to take into account what serves his interest and suits the circumstances of enforcement.

A person facing repeated refusal to hand over a child in custody or to allow visitation may need to consult a lawyer specialized in personal status.