Article 27 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 27 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الثاني: الاختصاص
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 في عقد زواج يراد إبرامه في المملكة.
ب - إذا كانت الدعوى بطلب طلاق أو فسخ عقد زواج، وكانت مرفوعة من الزوجة السعودية أو التي فقدت جنسيتها السعودية بسبب الزواج متى كانت أي منهما مقيمة في المملكة، أو كانت الدعـوى مرفوعـة مـن الزوجة غير السعودية المقيمة في المملكـة علـى زوجها الـذي كان له مكان إقامة فيها متـى كـان الــزوج قد هجر زوجته وجعل مكان إقامته في الخارج أو كان قد أُبعد من أراضي المملكة.
ج - إذا كانت الدعوى بطلب نفقة وكان من طلبت له النفقة مقيمًا في المملكة.
د - إذا كانت الدعوى في شأن نسب صغير في المملكة، أو كانت متعلقة بمسألة من مسائل الولاية على النفس أو المال متى كان للقاصر أو المطلوب الحجر عليه مكان إقامة في المملكة.
هـ - إذا كانت الدعوى متعلقة بمسألة من مسائل الأحوال الشخصية الأخرى وكان المدعي سعوديًّا أو كان غير سعودي مقيمًا في المملكة، وذلك إذا لم يكن للمدعى عليه مكان إقامة معروف في الخارج.
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 27 explained in plain English
This article concerns claims filed against a non-Saudi Muslim who has no general or chosen place of residence in the Kingdom, and makes the courts competent over them in the following cases, each with its own conditions:
- Opposition to a marriage: if the claim is an objection to a marriage contract that is to be concluded in the Kingdom.
- Divorce or annulment of the marriage, in two forms:
- if it is filed by the Saudi wife, or the one who lost her Saudi nationality because of the marriage, whenever either is resident in the Kingdom.
- or if it is filed by the non-Saudi wife resident in the Kingdom against her husband who had a place of residence in it, where the husband abandoned his wife and made his place of residence abroad, or was deported from the Kingdom's territory.
- Maintenance: if the person for whom maintenance is sought is resident in the Kingdom.
- Lineage and guardianship: if the claim concerns the lineage of a minor in the Kingdom, or relates to a matter of guardianship over the person or property where the minor or the person sought to be placed under interdiction has a place of residence in the Kingdom.
- Other personal status matters: if the claimant is a Saudi, or a non-Saudi resident in the Kingdom, and that is where the defendant has no known place of residence abroad.
This article differs from Article 26, which deals with non-Saudis in general on matters of property, obligation, bankruptcy and multiple defendants, while Article 28 makes the courts competent if the two litigants accept their jurisdiction, except real actions concerning real estate outside the Kingdom.
Given the precision of the conditions in each case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in procedure and litigation or in personal status cases.
Practical example
Noura, a Saudi resident in Riyadh, married a non-Saudi Muslim man, who then moved to live outside the Kingdom and no longer has a place of residence in it. If she wants to file a divorce claim against him, the Kingdom's courts are competent to hear it because she is a Saudi wife resident in the Kingdom.
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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 27 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Can a Saudi wife file for divorce in Saudi Arabia against a foreign husband living abroad?
Yes, if the husband is a non-Saudi Muslim with no place of residence in the Kingdom and the Saudi wife is resident in the Kingdom.
When do Saudi courts hear a maintenance claim against a husband or father abroad?
If the person for whom maintenance is sought is resident in the Kingdom and the defendant is a non-Saudi Muslim with no place of residence in it.
Does a non-Saudi wife benefit from this article?
Yes, if she is resident in the Kingdom and files a divorce or annulment claim against a husband who had a place of residence in it and then abandoned her and made his residence abroad, or was deported from the Kingdom.
When are the courts competent over other personal status matters?
If the claimant is a Saudi or a non-Saudi resident in the Kingdom, and the defendant has no known place of residence abroad.
More articles on Judicial Jurisdiction
- Article 10
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.
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.
- 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 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.