Article 54 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 54 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الخامس: تنظيم الترخيص لمكتب المحاماة الأجنبي لمزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة
The article lists seven cases in which a foreign law firm's license ends, including the firm's own request, expiry without renewal, failing to adopt a lawful form within 6 months, and ceasing work for more than a year.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ينقضي ترخيص مكتب المحاماة الأجنبي -المرخص له وفق أحكام هذا النظام- في الأحوال الآتية:
1- إلغاء الترخيص بناءً على طلب المكتب.
2- انتهاء مدة الترخيص دون تقديم طلب لتجديده.
3- مضي مدة (ستة) أشهر من تاريخ صدور الترخيص دون اتخاذ شكل يخوله مزاولة مهنة المحاماة في المملكة، إلا في حالة توافر مسوغ مشروع تقبله وزارة العدل.
4- التوقف عن مزاولة أعماله في المملكة مدة تزيد على (سنة).
5- صدور قرار أو حكم قضائي نهائي يقضي بإلغاء الترخيص.
6- انتهاء المشروع الصادر في شأنه ترخيص مؤقت وفق ما قضت به المادة (السادسة والأربعين) من هذا النظام.
7- فقدان أحد الشروط الواردة في المادة (الخامسة والأربعين) 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 54 explained in plain English
This article explains when the license of a foreign law firm licensed under the Law ends.
Cases of expiry:
- Cancellation of the license at the request of the firm itself.
- Expiry of the license period without an application to renew it.
- Passage of 6 months from the date of issuing the license without adopting a form that entitles it to practice in the Kingdom, unless there is a legitimate justification accepted by the Ministry of Justice.
- Ceasing to carry out its work in the Kingdom for a period exceeding one year.
- Issuance of a final decision or court judgment canceling the license.
- End of the project for which a temporary license was issued under Article 46.
- Loss of one of the conditions set out in Article 45.
Practical notes:
- The third case is the only one in which an express exception appears, namely a legitimate justification accepted by the Ministry.
- The fifth case requires the decision or judgment to be final.
- The fourth case requires the cessation to exceed one year.
The article does not describe the procedures that follow expiry or what becomes of existing work. It is connected to Article 53, which allows the Ministry of Justice to request data from licensed firms to confirm their compliance, and to Article 55, which subjects the foreign firm to all provisions of the Law and its Regulations where its chapter has no special provision, so far as this does not conflict with the nature of its license. To preserve the license or deal with a risk of its expiry, 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, but it delayed establishing the professional company or opening the branch. If 6 months pass from the issuance of the license without adopting either of these forms, the license ends, unless the firm presents a legitimate justification that the Ministry of Justice accepts.
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 54 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
When does a foreign law firm's license end?
In seven cases, including the firm's request to cancel it, expiry of its period without a renewal request, ceasing work for more than a year, and loss of one of the conditions of Article 45.
What if the foreign firm does not establish its company or branch after being licensed?
The license ends after 6 months from its issuance without adopting a form that entitles it to practice, unless there is a legitimate justification accepted by the Ministry of Justice.
What happens to a temporary license when the project ends?
The temporary license issued under Article 46 ends with the end of the project for which it was issued.
Articles this article refers to
- 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 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
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.