Article 166 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 166 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب العاشر: الأحكام
The article requires the judgment deed to be issued with its specified particulars within no more than 20 days of its pronouncement, the judgment to be registered, and a copy delivered within the same period.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تصدر المحكمة ـ خلال مدة لا تتجاوز عشرين يومًا من تاريخ النطق بالحكم ـ صكًّا حاويًا لخلاصة الدعوى، والجواب، والدفوع الصحيحة، وشهادة الشهود بلفظها وتزكيتها، وتحليف الأيمان، وأسماء القضاة الذين اشتركوا في الحكم، وأسماء الخصوم، ووكلائهم، وأسماء الشهود، واسم المحكمة التي نظرت الدعوى أمامها، وعدد ضبط الدعوى، وتاريخ ضبطها، وأسباب الحكم ونصه، وتاريخ النطق به، مع حذف الحشو والجمل المكررة التي لا تأثير لها في الحكم، ثم يوقع عليه ويختمه القاضي أو القضاة الذين اشتركوا في الحكم.
2- كل حكم يجب أن يسجل في سجل الأحكام، ما لم يقرر المجلس الأعلى للقضاء خلاف ذلك.
3- يكون تسليم صورة صك الحكم في مدة لا تتجاوز ما هو منصوص عليه 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 166 explained in plain English
This article regulates the judgment deed, the official document containing the judgment and what it was based on.
First - period of issuance: the court issues the deed within a period not exceeding 20 days from the date of pronouncing the judgment.
Second - contents of the deed: it must contain:
- A summary of the claim, the answer and the valid defenses.
- The testimony of the witnesses in their own words and its vetting, and the administering of oaths.
- The names of the judges who took part in the judgment, the names of the litigants and their agents, and the names of the witnesses.
- The name of the court, and the number and date of the record of the case.
- The reasons for the judgment, its text and the date of its pronouncement.
With filler and repeated sentences that have no effect on the judgment omitted, it is then signed and sealed by the judge or judges who took part in the judgment.
Third - registration: every judgment must be registered in the register of judgments, unless the Supreme Judicial Council decides otherwise.
Fourth - delivery of a copy: a copy of the judgment deed is delivered within a period not exceeding the period stated in paragraph (1), that is, 20 days from the pronouncement of the judgment.
This article comes after Article 165, which requires the litigants to be informed of the means of objection and their time limits. A person whose receipt of a copy of the deed is delayed beyond this period may refer to the court or consult a lawyer specializing in litigation and court procedure.
Practical example
A court in Riyadh pronounced a judgment in a case between Fahd and a contracting company. Under this article, the judgment deed must be issued with the required particulars, and a copy of it delivered, within a period not exceeding 20 days from the date of pronouncing the judgment.
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 166 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
How long does it take to issue the judgment deed?
The court issues the deed within a period not exceeding 20 days from the date of pronouncing the judgment.
What does the judgment deed contain?
A summary of the claim, the answer and the valid defenses, the testimony of witnesses and oaths, the names of the judges, litigants, their agents and witnesses, the court, the number and date of the record, and the reasons for the judgment, its text and the date of its pronouncement.
When do I receive a copy of the judgment deed?
Within a period not exceeding 20 days from the date of pronouncing the judgment, the period stated in paragraph (1).
More articles on Issuing the Judgment
- Article 56Amended (1441 AH)
If the claimant is absent from the hearings under Article 55, the defendant may ask for judgment on the substance of the claim; the court rules if the claim is ready for judgment, and its judgment counts as given in the claimant's presence.
إذا لم يحضر المدعي جلسات الدعوى - وفقاً لما ورد في المادة (الخامسة والخمسين) من هذا النظام - فللمدعى عليه أن يطلب من المحكمة الحكم في موضوعها، وعلى المحكمة أن ت
- Article 57
The article explains the effect of the defendant's absence and when a judgment against him is in his absence or in his presence, and allows compelling his attendance in marital, custody, maintenance, visitation and guardians' refusal-to-marry matters.
1- إذا غاب المدعى عليه عن الجلسة الأولى ولم يكن تبلغ لشخصه أو وكيله في الدعوى نفسها، فيؤجل النظر في الدعوى إلى جلسة لاحقة يبلغ بها المدعى عليه، فإن غاب عن هذه ا
- Article 60
The article allows a person sentenced in his absence to object to the judgment before the court that issued it within the objection periods, and regulates the objection memorandum, the effect of his absence and stay of enforcement.
1- يكون للمحكوم عليه غيابيًا - خلال المدد المقررة للاعتراض في هذا النظام - المعارضة على الحكم لدى المحكمة التي أصدرته، من تاريخ إبلاغه أو وكيله بالحكم. 2- يقدم
- Article 69
Pleadings close as soon as the parties finish, but before pronouncing judgment the court may reopen them and return the case to the session roll for acceptable reasons.
يقفل باب المرافعة بمجرد انتهاء الخصوم من مرافعتهم، ومع ذلك فللمحكمة قبل النطق بالحكم أن تقرر - من تلقاء نفسها أو بناء على طلب أحد الخصوم - فتح باب المرافعة وإعا
- Article 70
At any stage of the case the parties may ask to have what they agreed on, such as an admission or settlement, recorded in the case record, and the court must issue a deed to that effect.
للخصوم أن يطلبوا من المحكمة في أي حال تكون عليها الدعوى تدوين ما اتفقوا عليه من إقرار أو صلح أو غير ذلك في محضر الدعوى، وعلى المحكمة إصدار صك بذلك.
- Article 77
The court rules on the defenses in Articles 75 and 76 separately, unless it decides to join them to the merits of the case, in which case it states what it ruled on each defense and on the merits.
تحكم المحكمة في الدفوع المنصوص عليها في المادتين (الخامسة والسبعين والسادسة والسبعين) من هذا النظام على استقلال، ما لم تقرر ضمها إلى موضوع الدعوى، وعندئذ تبيّن
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.