Article 3 of the Saudi Judicial Costs Law
المادة 3 من نظام التكاليف القضائية
The Article imposes judicial costs on a case of no more than 5% of the value of the claim with a maximum of SAR 1 million, and refers the criteria for assessing them to the Implementing Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تفرض تكاليف قضائية على الدعوى بمبلغ لا يزيد على ما نسبته (?5) من قيمة المطالبة، وبحد أعلى مبلغ مليون ريال. وتحدد اللائحة معايير تقدير التكاليف القضائية والضوابط والقواعد المنظمة لذلك.
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 3 explained in plain English
This Article is the basic rule for calculating the costs of filing a case. It sets two ceilings that may not be exceeded:
- A ceiling by percentage: the costs may not exceed 5% of the value of the claim.
- A ceiling by amount: the costs may not in any case exceed SAR 1 million, however large the value of the claim.
Note that the text says "an amount not exceeding", meaning 5% is a maximum and not a fixed rate in every case. As for the criteria for assessing the costs and the controls and rules regulating them, the Article refers them to the Implementing Regulations, so the exact amount for each case cannot be known from the text alone.
This Article comes in the context of Article 2, which sets the cases to which the Law applies and those excepted from it, and it is followed by Article 4, which imposes additional costs of 25% of the costs of the first hearing if the case is struck out, adjudged as if it had not been filed, or ruled inadmissible for not being properly drafted, and is then heard again. The meaning of "judicial costs" and "case" is found in Article 1.
Before filing a high-value case, it may help you to consult a lawyer specialized in litigation and procedure to estimate the likely cost.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh claims SAR 200,000 from a supplier. Under this Article the judicial costs cannot exceed SAR 10,000 (5%). If the claim were SAR 30 million, 5% of it would be SAR 1.5 million, but the costs do not exceed SAR 1 million because of the maximum.
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 3 of the Saudi Judicial Costs Law
What percentage are case filing fees in Saudi Arabia?
Judicial costs on a case do not exceed 5% of the value of the claim, and the Implementing Regulations set the criteria for assessing them.
What is the maximum for judicial costs?
The maximum for judicial costs on a case is SAR 1 million, whatever the value of the claim.
Are the costs always 5% of the claim?
No. The text makes 5% a maximum, and leaves the assessment criteria and controls to the Implementing Regulations.
More articles on Fees for Filing a Claim
- Article 4
If a case is struck out, treated as if not filed, or ruled inadmissible for not being properly drafted and is then heard again, additional costs of 25% are imposed, borne by the plaintiff.
إذا قررت المحكمة شطب الدعوى، أو حكمت باعتبارها كأن لم تكن، أو بعدم قبولها لعدم تحريرها؛ فتفرض تكاليف قضائية إضافية في حال نظرها مجدداً بما يعادل نسبة (?25) من ت
- Article 5
The Article imposes costs on a person seeking annulment of an arbitral award of 1% of the amount awarded if their request is rejected, with a maximum of SAR 1 million.
تُفرض على دعوى بطلان حكم التحكيم تكاليف قضائية بما نسبته (?1) من قيمة المبلغ المحكوم به على مدعي البطلان، إذا حكم برفض طلبه، وبحد أعلى مليون ريال.
- Article 6
Independent judicial costs are imposed on the case of an intervening party seeking judgment for himself, and where there are several plaintiffs or defendants each bears the costs in proportion to his share of the claim.
دون إخلال بما ورد في المادتين (السابعة) و(الثامنة) من النظام: 1- تفرض تكاليف قضائية مستقلة على دعوى الخصم المتدخل طالباً الحكم لنفسه. 2- في حال تعدد المدعين أو
- Article 9
If an application changes the value of the case, up or down, the case's costs are calculated on the new value, without prejudice to the costs set for the application itself.
إذا ترتب على الطلب تغير في تقدير قيمة الدعوى سواء بالزيادة أو النقص، فتُحسب التكاليف القضائية للدعوى بناء على تقدير القيمة الجديدة لها، وذلك مع عدم الإخلال بالت
- Article 10
No new costs are imposed on the case if a ruling of lack of jurisdiction is made and the case is brought before the competent court, or if the judgment is cassated and the case returned.
لا تفرض تكاليف جديدة على الدعوى في أي من الحالتين الآتيتين: 1- إذا حكم بعدم الاختصاص وأقيمت الدعوى أمام المحكمة المختصة. 2- إذا قضت المحكمة المختصة بنقض الحكم و
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.