Article 10 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 10 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
The article bars transferring a case properly filed before a competent court to another court or body, or withdrawing it before judgment, and treats the case as filed from the date of its registration.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز نقل أي قضية رفعت بطريقة صحيحة لمحكمة مختصة إلى محكمة أو جهة أخرى، ولا يحق لأحد سحبها منها قبل الحكم فيها، وتعد القضية مرفوعة من تاريخ قيدها في المحكمة.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article protects the stability of a case before the court to which it was filed, and sets three rules:
- No transfer: no case filed in a proper manner before a competent court may be transferred to another court or body.
- No withdrawal: no one has the right to withdraw the case from that court before judgment is given in it.
- Date of filing: the case is considered filed from the date of its registration at the court.
Note that the protection the article provides is subject to two conditions: the case must have been filed in a proper manner, and the court must be competent. The article does not deal with a case filed before a court that is not competent.
The practical benefit of this article is that a litigant can be assured his case will remain before the competent court to which he filed it until judgment is given, and that the date of registration is the date counted for filing his claim, a date that may matter for other issues concerning the case.
The article is linked to Article 9, which defines the place of residence, and to Article 11, which regulates service of notice through process servers on the order of the judge or at the request of the opponent or the court administration.
If you have a question about the jurisdiction of the court to which your case was filed, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in procedure and litigation.
Practical example
Majed properly filed a claim before the competent court in Riyadh, and it was registered at the court. The other party asked for the case to be transferred to another body. Under this article it may not be transferred or withdrawn before judgment, and it is considered filed from the date of its registration.
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 10 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Can a case be transferred to another court after it is filed?
A case properly filed before a competent court may not be transferred to another court or body.
Can the case be withdrawn from the court before judgment?
No one has the right to withdraw a case properly filed before a competent court before judgment is given in it.
When is a claim considered filed?
The case is considered filed from the date of its registration at the court.
More articles on Judicial Jurisdiction
- Article 19
The article provides that a person residing outside the Kingdom is served by sending the copy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for diplomatic delivery, and a reply confirming it reached him is sufficient.
إذا كان مكان إقامة الموجه إليه التبليغ خارج المملكة فترسل صورة التبليغ إلى وزارة الخارجية لتوصيلها بالطرق الدبلوماسية، ويكتفى بالرد الذي يفيد وصول الصورة إلى ال
- Article 24
Article 24 gives the courts of the Kingdom jurisdiction over cases brought against a Saudi even if he has no general or chosen residence in the Kingdom, except real actions concerning real estate outside the Kingdom.
تختص محـاكم المملكة بنظـرالدعـاوى التـي ترفع على السعودي ولو لم يكن له محل إقامة عام ومختار في المملكة فيما عدا الدعاوى العينية المتعلقة بعقار خارج المملكة.
- Article 25
The article makes the Kingdom's courts competent over claims against a non-Saudi who has a general or chosen place of residence in the Kingdom, except real actions concerning real estate outside it.
تختص محاكم المملكة بنظر الدعاوى التي ترفع على غير السعودي الذي له محل إقامة عام أو مختار في المملكة فيما عدا الدعاوى العينية المتعلقة بعقار خارج المملكة.
- Article 26
The article sets three cases in which the Kingdom's courts are competent over a claim against a non-Saudi with no general or chosen place of residence in it: property or obligation, bankruptcy, and multiple defendants.
تختص محاكم المملكة بنظر الدعاوى التي ترفع على غير السعودي الذي ليس له مكان إقامة عام أو مختار في المملكة في الأحوال الآتية: أ - إذا كانت الدعوى متعلقة بمال موجو
- Article 27
The article sets cases in which the Kingdom's courts are competent over a claim against a non-Saudi Muslim with no place of residence in it, relating to marriage, divorce, maintenance, lineage, guardianship and other personal status matters.
تختص محاكم المملكة بنظر الدعوى المقامة على المسلم غير السعودي الذي ليس له مكان إقامة عام أو مختار في المملكة، وذلك في الأحوال الآتية: أ - إذا كانت الدعوى معارضة
- Article 28
The article makes the Kingdom's courts competent over a claim if both litigants accept their jurisdiction, even if it does not fall within it, except real actions concerning real estate outside the Kingdom.
فيما عدا الدعاوى العينية المتعلقة بعقار خارج المملكة، تختص محاكم المملكة بنظر الدعوى إذا قبل المتداعيان ولايتها ولو لم تكن داخلة في اختصاصها.
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.