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Article 30 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure

المادة 30 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الثاني: الاختصاص

Article 30 provides that the jurisdiction of the courts of the Kingdom over the original case carries with it jurisdiction over preliminary questions, incidental requests and requests connected to the case that the proper course of justice requires be heard with it.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

اختصاص محاكم المملكة يستتبع الاختصاص بنظر المسائل الأولية والطلبات العارضة على الدعوى الأصلية، وكذا نظر كل طلب يرتبط بهذه الدعوى ويقتضي حسن سير العدالة أن يُنظر معها.

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 30 explained in plain English

This article establishes the rule of extension of jurisdiction: if the courts of the Kingdom have jurisdiction over the original case, their jurisdiction carries with it the hearing of other related matters, namely:

  1. Preliminary questions: which, in the general understanding, are questions that must be decided first so that the original case can be decided.
  2. Incidental requests to the original case: that is, requests submitted while the case is in progress.
  3. Every request connected to the original case, provided that the proper course of justice requires it to be heard with it.

Note that the third case is subject to two conditions together: the request must be connected to the case, and the proper course of justice must require it to be heard with it. The mere existence of some connection is not enough according to the text.

The practical benefit of this rule is that it prevents splitting a single dispute between different judicial bodies, and allows its interrelated aspects to be decided before one court.

The article is connected to Article 29, which gives the courts of the Kingdom jurisdiction to take precautionary and temporary measures enforced in the Kingdom even if they are not competent over the original case. Article 31 moves on to distributing jurisdiction among the courts inside the Kingdom, specifying what the general courts have jurisdiction over.

Assessing whether a request is connected to the case varies from case to case, so it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in procedure and litigation.

Practical example

A company in Riyadh files a case before the courts of the Kingdom against a foreign company claiming the value of goods, and during the case the foreign company submits an incidental request for compensation for a defect in the same goods. The jurisdiction of the courts extends to this incidental request.

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 30 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure

Does the court hear incidental requests together with the original case?

Yes. The jurisdiction of the courts of the Kingdom over the original case carries with it jurisdiction to hear incidental requests to it.

When does the court hear a request connected to the case?

If the request is connected to the case and the proper course of justice requires it to be heard with it.

Does the jurisdiction include preliminary questions?

Yes. The jurisdiction of the courts of the Kingdom carries with it jurisdiction to hear preliminary questions.

More articles on Judicial Jurisdiction

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.