Article 26 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 26 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الثاني: واجبات المحامين وحقوقهم
The Article makes the lawyer's fees and how they are paid a matter of agreement with his client, and if there is none, or it is void, or it is rescinded or terminated, the court sets them on dispute according to effort and benefit.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
تحدد أتعاب المحامي وطريقة دفعها باتفاق يعقده مع موكله، فإن لم يوجد اتفاق أو كان الاتفاق باطلاً أو فُسخ أو انفسخ، قدرتها المحكمة التي نظرت في القضية عند اختلافهما بناء على طلب المحامي أو الموكل بما يتناسب مع الجهد الذي بذله المحامي والنفع الذي عاد على الموكل.
ويطبق هذا الحكم كذلك إذا نشأ عن الدعوى الأصلية أي دعوى فرعية
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 26 explained in plain English
This Article regulates how a lawyer's fees are set and how they are paid.
The default: agreement. The fees and the method of payment are set by an agreement the lawyer concludes with his client.
When does the court intervene? If one of the following cases occurs:
- there was no agreement at all;
- or the agreement was void;
- or the agreement was rescinded or terminated.
In these cases the fees are set by the court that heard the case, provided there is a disagreement between the lawyer and the client, and at the request of the lawyer or the client.
The standard for setting them: in proportion to the effort the lawyer exerted and the benefit that accrued to the client.
Ancillary claims: the same rule applies if any ancillary claim arises from the main claim.
This Article was amended by Royal Decree No. M/21 dated 26/1/1447 AH, and the explanation here is of the text in force.
In practice, it is advisable for the client and the lawyer to write a clear agreement setting the fees and how they are paid, to avoid disputes. The Article is connected to Article 27, which sets out the client's right to dismiss his lawyer and the effect of an unjustified dismissal on the agreed fees. In a dispute over fees, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in the laws regulating the legal profession.
Practical example
A lawyer acted for Majed in a compensation claim before a court in Riyadh without their writing an agreement on fees, and after the case ended they disagreed over the amount. Either of them may ask the court that heard the case to set the fees, and it sets them in proportion to the lawyer's effort and the benefit that accrued to Majed.
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 26 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
What happens if there is no fee agreement with the lawyer?
The court that heard the case sets the fees on a dispute, at the request of the lawyer or the client, in proportion to the lawyer's effort and the benefit that accrued to the client.
How are a lawyer's fees determined?
The default is that the fees and the method of payment are set by agreement between the lawyer and his client.
Does the rule cover ancillary claims?
The Article's rule also applies if any ancillary claim arises from the main claim.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/21 — 26/1/1447 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/21) وتاريخ 1447/1/26هـ، لتكون بالنص الآتي:
"تحدد أتعاب المحامي وطريقة دفعها باتفاق يعقده مع موكله، فإن لم يوجد اتفاق أو كان الاتفاق باطلاً أو فُسخ أو انفسخ، قدرتها المحكمة التي نظرت في القضية عند اختلافهما بناء على طلب المحامي أو الموكل بما يتناسب مع الجهد الذي بذله المحامي والنفع الذي عاد على الموكل.
ويطبق هذا الحكم كذلك إذا نشأ عن الدعوى الأصلية أي دعوى فرعية".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
تحدد أتعاب المحامي وطريقة دفعها باتفاق يعقده مع موكله، فإذا لم يكن هناك اتفاق أو كان الاتفاق مختلفا فيه أو باطلا، قدرتها المحكمة التي نظرت في القضية عند اختلافهما بناء على طلب المحامي أو الموكل بما يتناسب مع الجهد الذي بذله المحامي والنفع الذي عاد على الموكل. ويطبق هذا الحكم كذلك إذا نشأ عن الدعوى الأصلية أي دعوى فرعية.
More articles on Legal Fees
- Article 22
The Article requires a lawyer to return the power of attorney and original documents to his client when the agency ends and he asks, and allows him to keep them until the due fees and the cost of copies are paid.
على المحامي عند انقضاء التوكيل ، أن يرد لموكله عند طلبه سند التوكيل والمستندات والأوراق الأصلية، ومع ذلك يجوز له إذا لم يكن قد حصل على أتعابه أن يستخرج على نفقة
- Article 27
The Article allows a client to dismiss his lawyer, and requires him to pay the full agreed fees if the dismissal is proved to be without a legitimate reason, unless the competent court decides otherwise.
للموكل أن يعزل محاميه، وعليه أن يدفع كامل الأتعاب المتفق عليها إذا ثبت أن العزل بسبب غير مشروع، ما لم تر المحكمة المختصة بنظر القضية غير ذلك بالنسبة للعزل وكامل
- Article 28
The Article provides that if the lawyer dies and his heirs and the client do not agree on the fees, the court that heard the case sets them in light of effort and benefit, the stage of the case and the agreement made.
في حالة وفاة المحامي وعدم اتفاق الورثة والموكل على تحديد الأتعاب ، تقدر المحكمة التي نظرت في القضية أتعابه في ضوء الجهد المبذول والنفع الذي عاد على الموكل والمر
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.