Article 48 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice

المادة 48 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الخامس: تنظيم الترخيص لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي لمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة

The article sets the license period of a foreign law firm at five years, renewable on the Article 45 conditions, with a fee of SAR 2,000 for issuance and SAR 1,000 for renewal.

Official text (Arabic)

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

1- تكون مدة الترخيص لمزاولة مكتب المحاماة الأجنبي مهنة المحاماة في المملكة (خمس) سنوات، قابلة للتجديد لمدة أو لمدد أخرى مماثلة وفقاً للشروط المحددة في المادة (الخامسة والأربعين) من هذا النظام.

2- يكون رسم إصدار الترخيص لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي بمبلغ قدره (ألفا) ريال، و(ألف) ريال عند تجديده.

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 48 explained in plain English

This article sets two practical matters that concern any foreign law firm wishing to work in the Kingdom: the period of the license and its fees.

License period:

The license period is 5 years.
It is renewable for another period or similar periods, that is, 5 years each time.
Renewal is subject to the conditions set out in Article 45, so the passage of the period is not enough to request renewal; those conditions must remain met.

Fees:

Fee for issuing the license: SAR 2,000.
Renewal fee: SAR 1,000.

The article sets the fee as a fixed amount and does not tie it to the size of the firm or the number of its partners. It does not address other fees or costs that other regulations may impose.

This article is connected to Article 47, which provides that applications for licensing and renewal are submitted to the committee referred to in Article 5 and that the license is issued by a decision of the Minister of Justice on the committee's recommendation, and to Article 49, which establishes at the Ministry of Justice a special register in which foreign law firms are recorded after obtaining the license. To keep track of renewal dates and requirements, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in foreign investment and the regulation of the legal profession.

Practical example

A foreign law firm obtained a license to work in Riyadh and paid the issuance fee of SAR 2,000. After 5 years it applies for renewal and pays SAR 1,000, and the conditions of Article 45 must still be met by it at the time of renewal.

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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