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Article 47 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice

المادة 47 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الخامس: تنظيم الترخيص لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي لمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة

The article provides that applications to license and renew licenses of foreign law firms go to the committee referred to in Article 5, and that the license is issued by decision of the Minister of Justice on its recommendation.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

1- تقدم طلبات ترخيص مكاتب المحاماة الأجنبية، وطلبات تجديده؛ إلى اللجنة المنصوص عليها في المادة (الخامسة) من هذا النظام، وفق النماذج المعدة لذلك، مرافقًا لها جميع المستندات والوثائق التي تحددها اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام.

2- يصدر الترخيص لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي، وتجديده؛ بقرار من وزير العدل بناءً على توصية من اللجنة المنصوص عليها في المادة (الخامسة) من هذا النظام.

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 47 explained in plain English

This article explains the basic procedures for licensing a foreign law firm and renewing its license.

Submitting the application:

  • Applications for licensing and for renewal are submitted to the committee referred to in Article 5 of the Law.
  • They are submitted on the forms prepared for that purpose.
  • All the documents and papers specified by the Implementing Regulations are attached to the application; the article does not list these documents.

Issuing the license:

  • The license and its renewal are issued by a decision of the Minister of Justice.
  • This is on the recommendation of the same committee.

The process thus has two stages: the committee receives the application, studies it and makes a recommendation, and then the Minister issues the decision. The article does not set a period for deciding on the application, nor a way to object to its rejection.

This article is connected to Article 46, which allows an application for a temporary license to provide legal consultancy for a specific project, and to Article 48, which sets the license period at 5 years, renewable, and its fee at SAR 2,000 on issuance and SAR 1,000 on renewal. To prepare the application file, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in foreign investment and the regulation of the legal profession.

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 47 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice

Where is an application for a foreign law firm license submitted?

To the committee referred to in Article 5 of the Law of Legal Practice, on the prepared forms and with the documents specified by the Implementing Regulations.

Who issues a foreign law firm's license?

It is issued, and likewise renewed, by a decision of the Minister of Justice on the recommendation of the committee referred to in Article 5.

Articles this article refers to

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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.