Article 18 of the Saudi Judicial Costs Law

This Article complements the exemption provisions in Article 17. The exemption protects the exempt person, but it does not exempt their opponent if the opponent loses the case.

The rule: if judgment is given in the case in favor of the party exempt from judicial costs, the party against whom judgment is given must pay them.

Article 17, to which this Article refers, sets the categories on whom costs are not imposed, subject to the laws, treaties and international agreements to which the Kingdom is a party:

• Prisoners and detainees at the time the costs fall due in non-criminal financial cases, in cases brought by them or against them.
• Workers covered by the Labor Law, those excluded from it and those entitled on their behalf, when claiming their dues arising from work contracts.
• Ministries and government bodies.

So if a worker files a case against an employer claiming the dues of their contract, the worker does not pay costs because of the exemption, but if judgment is given in their favor, the costs are imposed on the employer against whom judgment is given. The phrase "subject to what Article (17) provides" means this rule is applied within the framework of the exemption provisions and controls in that Article.

If you are a party to a case in which your opponent is exempt from costs, you can consult a lawyer specialized in litigation and procedure to estimate what you may bear.