Article 53 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 53 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الخامس: تنظيم الترخيص لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي لمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة
The article gives the Ministry of Justice the right to request data to verify the documents of foreign firm license applications and the compliance of licensed firms with the Law, and allows it to delegate other bodies as needed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لوزارة العدل طلب البيانات والمعلومات اللازمة للتحقق من المستندات والوثائق المصاحبة لطلبات الترخيص لمكاتب المحاماة الأجنبية، ولها كذلك طلب البيانات والمعلومات اللازمة من مكاتب المحاماة الأجنبية المرخص لها للتأكد من التزامها بأحكام هذا النظام ولائحته التنفيذية وذلك بما يتناسب مع طبيعة ونوع الترخيص الصادر لها.
2- لوزارة العدل -وفق ما تقدره وبالقدر اللازم لذلك- تفويض غيرها من الجهات في شأن ما يتعلق بصلاحياتها المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة.
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 53 explained in plain English
This article gives the Ministry of Justice supervisory tools over foreign law firms, at the licensing stage and afterwards.
The Ministry's powers (paragraph 1):
- On applying for a license: Requesting the data and information needed to verify the documents and papers accompanying foreign firms' license applications.
- After licensing: Requesting the data and information needed from licensed firms to confirm their compliance with the provisions of the Law and its Implementing Regulations.
- This is in proportion to the nature and type of the license issued to the firm, so what is requested from a firm with one license may differ from what is requested from another.
Delegation (paragraph 2): The Ministry may delegate other bodies regarding these powers, as it deems fit and to the extent necessary. The article does not identify these bodies.
This article is connected to Article 52, which obliges the foreign firm to meet obligations including localization ratios, knowledge transfer, training and professional liability insurance; the power to request data helps the Ministry confirm they are met. It is also connected to Article 54, which lists the cases in which a firm's license ends, including loss of one of the conditions of Article 45. To prepare a response to the Ministry's requests, 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 53 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
Can the Ministry of Justice request information from a licensed foreign law firm?
Yes. It may request the data and information needed to confirm the firm's compliance with the Law and its Implementing Regulations, in proportion to the nature and type of its license.
May the Ministry of Justice delegate another body to exercise these powers?
Yes, as it deems fit and to the extent necessary.
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.