Article 50 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 50 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الخامس: تنظيم الترخيص لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي لمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة
The article requires a licensed foreign law firm, except one with a temporary license, to adopt one of two forms before practicing: a professional company with a practicing Saudi lawyer, or a branch in the Kingdom.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
فيما عدا مكتب المحاماة الأجنبي الحاصل على الترخيص المؤقت المشار إليه في المادة (السادسة والأربعين) من هذا النظام، على مكتب المحاماة الأجنبي المرخص له اتخاذ أحد الشكلين الآتيين قبل مزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة:
1- تأسيس شركة مهنية مع محامٍ سعودي (أو أكثر) من المقيدين في جدول المحامين الممارسين، وفق نظام الشركات المهنية ووفق الشروط التي تحددها اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام.
2- فتح فرع له (أو أكثر) في المملكة وفق الأحكام التي تحددها اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا 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 50 explained in plain English
Obtaining the license is not the last step; this article requires a licensed foreign law firm to adopt a specific form before it starts practicing in the Kingdom.
The two available forms:
- A professional company: The firm establishes it with one or more Saudi lawyers registered in the list of practicing lawyers, under the Professional Companies Law and the conditions set by the Implementing Regulations.
- A branch: The firm opens one or more branches in the Kingdom under the provisions set by the Implementing Regulations.
The exception: This obligation does not apply to a foreign law firm holding the temporary license referred to in Article 46, which is a license to provide legal consultancy for a specific project.
Why does the choice matter? The form the firm chooses determines the scope of what it may do. Article 51 allows a firm that takes the form of a professional company to carry out all work connected with the profession, while limiting pleading on behalf of others to a Saudi lawyer registered in the list of practicing lawyers, whereas it limits a branch's work to specified activities such as consultancy on international law, arbitration, mediation and conciliation, and consultancy on Saudi laws through a lawyer registered in the list of practicing lawyers.
The article requires the Saudi partner to be registered in the list of practicing lawyers. To choose the suitable form and draft the company contract, 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 the Kingdom and wants to provide comprehensive legal services to its clients in Riyadh. It chose to establish a professional company with two Saudi lawyers registered in the list of practicing lawyers under the Professional Companies Law, instead of opening a branch, because a branch is limited to specified activities.
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 50 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
What forms may a foreign law firm take to work in Saudi Arabia?
Either establishing a professional company with one or more Saudi lawyers registered in the list of practicing lawyers, or opening one or more branches in the Kingdom.
Must a firm with a temporary license adopt one of the two forms?
No. The article excludes a foreign law firm holding the temporary license referred to in Article 46.
Can a foreign firm start work before adopting one of the two forms?
No. The article requires adopting one of the two forms before practicing law in the Kingdom.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Foreign Law Firms
- Article 44
The article defines a foreign law firm as a non-Saudi establishment licensed to practice law in another country, and prohibits it from practicing law in the Kingdom unless licensed under the Law and within the limits of that license.
1- يقصد بمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي، لغرض تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام والترخيص له بمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة: المنشأة غير السعودية التي تزاول أعمال مهنة المحاماة بن
- Article 45
The article sets five conditions for licensing a foreign law firm: distinguished international reputation, 10 years since establishment, representation in 3 countries, two partners residing 180 days a year, and payment of fees.
دون إخلال بالأحكام والشروط الواردة في نظام الاستثمار الأجنبي، يشترط للترخيص لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي لمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة ما يأتي: 1- أن يكون ذا سمعة
- Article 46
The article allows a foreign law firm to apply for a temporary license to provide legal consultancy for a specific project in the Kingdom, as an exception to the resident-partners condition, according to the Regulations' requirements.
استثناءً من الشرط الوارد في الفقرة (4) من المادة (الخامسة والأربعين) من هذا النظام، لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي التقدم بطلب ترخيص مؤقت لتقديم خدمات الاستشارات النظام
- Article 47
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.
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 جمي
- Article 48
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.
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 (ا
- Article 49
The article establishes at the Ministry of Justice a special register of licensed foreign law firms, including those with a temporary license, in which they are recorded after being licensed, with the Regulations specifying its contents.
يُنشأ في وزارة العدل سجل خاص لمكاتب المحاماة الأجنبية المرخص لها بمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة، بما في ذلك المكاتب الحاصلة على الترخيص المؤقت المشار إليه في
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.