Article 208 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 208 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الثاني عشر: القضاء المستعجل
The article allows anyone asserting a right to ask that an opponent be banned from traveling during the case or immediately before it, on conditions and with security to compensate the defendant if the claimant proves not entitled.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لكل مدع بحق على آخر أثناء نظر الدعوى، أو قبل تقديمها مباشرة، أن يقدم إلى المحكمة المختصة بالموضوع دعوى مستعجلة لمنع خصمه من السفر، وعلى القاضي أن يصدر أمرًا بالمنع إذا قامت أسباب تدعو إلى الظن أن سفر المدعى عليه أمر متوقع وبأنه يعرض حق المدعي للخطر أو يؤخر أداءه، ويشترط تقديم المدعي تأمينًا يحدده القاضي لتعويض المدعى عليه متى ظهر أن المدعي غير محق في دعواه، ويحكم بالتعويض مع الحكم في الموضوع ويقدر حسب ما لحق المدعى عليه من أضرار لتأخيره عن السفر.
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 208 explained in plain English
This article regulates the travel ban case, which is one of the urgent cases.
Who may bring it and when? Anyone asserting a right against another, either while the case is being heard or immediately before filing it, and it is brought before the court competent over the merits.
When does the judge issue the ban order? The judge must issue a ban order if there are grounds giving reason to think two things together:
- That the defendant's travel is expected.
- And that his travel endangers the claimant's right or delays its performance.
Security: The claimant is required to provide security set by the judge, to serve as a source of compensation for the defendant if it appears that the claimant is not entitled in his claim.
Compensation: Compensation is awarded together with the ruling on the merits, and is assessed according to the harm that befell the defendant because of his delay in traveling.
This article comes after Article 207, which sets the appearance period in urgent cases at twenty-four hours, which may be shortened in case of extreme necessity by order of the court.
What this means in practice: a travel ban is not automatic; it requires persuasive grounds and security, and the claimant may have to compensate his opponent if he was not entitled. To assess whether this case is worthwhile, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in civil cases and litigation.
Practical example
Saleh lent his friend a large sum and sued him to claim it, then learned that he was preparing to travel outside the Kingdom for a long time. Saleh may ask the competent court to ban him from traveling, and the judge issues the order if there are grounds giving reason to think that his travel is expected and that it endangers Saleh's right or delays its performance, provided Saleh furnishes security set by the judge. If it later appears that Saleh was not entitled, his friend is awarded compensation for the harm of being delayed from traveling.
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 208 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Can an opponent be banned from traveling before the case is filed?
Yes. The travel ban case may be brought immediately before filing the case or while it is being heard.
What are the conditions for issuing a travel ban order?
There must be grounds giving reason to think that the defendant's travel is expected and that it endangers the claimant's right or delays its performance, and the claimant must furnish security set by the judge.
What if the claimant is proven not to be entitled?
The defendant is awarded compensation together with the ruling on the merits, assessed according to the harm he suffered from being delayed in traveling.
More articles on Urgent Proceedings
- Article 29
The article makes the Kingdom's courts competent to take precautionary and interim measures enforced in the Kingdom, even if they are not competent over the original claim.
تختص محاكم المملكة باتخاذ التدابير التحفظية والوقتية التي تنفذ في المملكة ولو كانت غير مختصة بالدعوى الأصلية.
- Article 120
A person with an interest may bring an urgent case before the court competent by place to inspect a fact that may become the subject of a future dispute and record its condition in the presence of those concerned.
يجوز لكل صاحب مصلحة في إثبات معالم واقعة يحتمل أن تصبح محل نزاع أمام القضاء مستقبلًا أن يتقدم إلى المحكمة المختصة بها مكانًا بدعوى مستعجلة لمعاينتها بحضور ذوي ا
- Article 169Amended (1442 AH)
The article specifies the cases in which a judgment must carry provisional enforcement, with or without security at the judge's discretion.
يجب أن يكون الحكم مشمولًا بالتنفيذ المعجل، بكفالة أو بدونها حسب تقدير القاضي، وذلك في الأحوال الآتية: أ - الأحكام الصادرة في الأمور المستعجلة. ب- إذا كان الحكم
- Article 196
The article provides that an objection before the Supreme Court does not stay execution of the judgment, though the court may order a temporary stay on a request in the memorandum where serious, irreparable harm is feared.
لا يترتب على الاعتراض لدى المحكمة العليا وقف تنفيذ الحكم، ما لم ينص النظام على خلاف ذلك، وللمحكمة أن تأمر بوقف تنفيذ الحكم مؤقتًّا إذا طُلب ذلك في مذكرة الاعترا
- Article 205
The article makes the court competent over the merits the one that rules provisionally on urgent matters relating to the dispute, without its ruling affecting the merits of the case.
تحكـم المحكمـة المختصـة بنظـر الموضوع بصفة مؤقتة في المسائل المستعجلة التي يخشى عليها فوات الوقت والمتعلقة بالمنازعة نفسها، ولا يؤثر هذا الحكم على موضوع الدعوى،
- Article 206
The article lists the urgent cases, including inspection to record the condition of something, travel bans, possession, stopping new works, sequestration and a day laborer's wage.
تشمل الدعاوى المستعجلة ما يأتي: أ - دعوى المعاينة لإثبات الحالة. ب - دعوى المنع من السفر. ج - دعوى منع التعرض للحيازة، ودعوى استردادها. د - دعوى وقف الأعمال الج
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.