Article 36 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 36 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الثاني: الاختصاص
Article 36 sets the general rule on territorial jurisdiction: a case is filed in the court of the defendant's place of residence, then the plaintiff's if the defendant has none in the Kingdom, with rules for multiple defendants.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يكون الاختصاص للمحكمة التي يقع في نطاق اختصاصها مكان إقامة المدعى عليه، فإن لم يكن له مكان إقامة في المملكة فيكون الاختصاص للمحكمة التي يقع في نطاق اختصاصها مكان إقامة المدعي.
2- إذا لم يكن للمدعي والمدعى عليه مكان إقامة في المملكة فللمدعي إقامة دعواه في إحدى محاكم مدن المملكة.
3- إذا تعدد المدعى عليهم يكون الاختصاص للمحكمة التي يقع في نطاق اختصاصها مكان إقامة الأكثرية، وفي حال التساوي يكون المدعي بالخيار في إقامة الدعوى أمام أي محكمة يقع في نطاق اختصاصها مكان إقامة أحدهم.
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 36 explained in plain English
This article lays down the general rule on territorial jurisdiction, that is, determining the court to which a case must be filed in terms of place. The principle is that the plaintiff goes to the defendant, so the case is filed in the court within whose area the defendant's place of residence falls.
The article addresses three situations:
- The original situation: jurisdiction belongs to the court of the defendant's place of residence. If he has no place of residence in the Kingdom, jurisdiction moves to the court of the plaintiff's place of residence.
- If neither has a place of residence in the Kingdom: the plaintiff may file his case in one of the courts of the cities of the Kingdom.
- If there are multiple defendants: jurisdiction belongs to the court within whose area the place of residence of most of them falls. If their numbers are equal between more than one place, the plaintiff has the choice between any court within whose area the place of residence of one of them falls.
Among the special rules is what Article 37 provides, that a case against government bodies is brought in the court within whose area their main headquarters falls, with the possibility of filing it with the branch's court in matters relating to it.
Knowing the competent court before filing the case saves the plaintiff time and effort. When in doubt about the competent court in a particular case, one may consult a lawyer specializing in litigation and procedure before the courts.
Practical example
Ahmed lives in Jeddah and is owed an amount by three people: two live in Riyadh and one in Dammam. Under this article the case falls within the jurisdiction of the court within whose area the place of residence of the majority falls, that is, a court in Riyadh. If only one of them were in Riyadh and the other in Dammam, Ahmed would have the choice between the two cities.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 36 of Law of Sharia Procedure?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Unwan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 36 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Do I file the case in my city or the defendant's city?
The principle is that the case is filed in the court within whose area the defendant's place of residence falls, and it moves to the court of the plaintiff's place of residence only if the defendant has no place of residence in the Kingdom.
What if neither I nor the defendant has a place of residence in Saudi Arabia?
In this case the plaintiff may file his case in one of the courts of the cities of the Kingdom.
If there are several defendants in different cities, where is the case filed?
In the court within whose area the place of residence of most of them falls, and if they are equal the plaintiff chooses any court within whose area the place of residence of one of them falls.
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 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
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.