Article 21 of the Saudi Notarization Law
المادة 21 من نظام التوثيق · الفصل الثالث: الرخصة، والإعلان عن المهنة
The article creates a committee to decide notarization license applications within 30 days, requires a refusal decision to be reasoned, and allows a grievance before the competent court against refusal or failure to decide in time.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يشكل الوزير لجنة للبت في طلبات الحصول على الرخص، تؤلف برئاسة وكيل من الوزارة، وعضوية مستشار شرعي ومستشار نظامي من الوزارة لا تقل مرتبة كل منهما عن المرتبة (العاشرة)، وتبت اللجنة في الطلب خلال (ثلاثين) يوماً من تاريخ تقديمه، على أن يكون القرار مسبباً في حالة رفض الطلب. ويجوز لصاحب الطلب التظلم أمام المحكمة المختصة من قرار رفضه أو عدم البت فيه خلال تلك المدة.
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 21 explained in plain English
This article regulates how applications for notarization licenses are decided, that is, licenses of the licensed notary and the marriage officiant, and the rights of the applicant.
Formation of the committee: the Minister of Justice forms a committee to decide applications, chaired by an undersecretary of the Ministry, with the membership of a Sharia adviser and a legal adviser from the Ministry, each of whom is not below the tenth grade.
The committee's duties:
- to decide the application within 30 days of the date it was submitted.
- its decision must be reasoned if it refuses the application, so that the applicant knows the reason for refusal.
The right to file a grievance: the applicant may file a grievance before the competent court in two cases:
- if a decision refusing their application is issued.
- if the committee has not decided on their application within the 30-day period.
So the committee's silence after the period expires does not leave the applicant without recourse; it opens the door to a grievance as if the application had been refused. The article does not set a time limit for filing the grievance or its procedures, and does not name the competent court.
This article is linked to Article 20, which makes the issuance of the license by decision of the Minister on the recommendation of the competent department, and to Article 22, which sets the term of the license at five years, renewable. Anyone whose application was refused and who is considering a grievance would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in administrative matters.
Practical example
Nasser applied for a licensed notary license in Riyadh, and 30 days passed from his application without the committee deciding on it. Under this article he may file a grievance before the competent court against the failure to decide on his application within the period, as if a reasoned decision refusing it had been issued.
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 21 of the Saudi Notarization Law
How long does it take to decide a licensed notary license application?
The committee decides the application within 30 days of the date it was submitted.
What should I do if a notarization license application is refused?
The applicant may file a grievance before the competent court against the decision of refusal, and the refusal decision must be reasoned.
Can I file a grievance if the committee does not respond to my application?
Yes. A grievance may be filed before the competent court against failure to decide on the application within 30 days.
More articles on The Notarization License
- Article 20
The article provides that the license of a licensed notary or marriage officiant is issued by decision of the Minister of Justice on the recommendation of the competent department.
تصدر الرخصة بقرار من الوزير بناء على توصية من الإدارة المختصة.
- Article 22
The article sets the term of a notarization license at five years, renewable, and leaves the Regulations to set the procedures and controls for issuing, renewing and reissuing the license.
تكون مدة الرخصة خمس سنوات قابلة للتجديد، وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات والضوابط الواجب اتخاذها عند إصدار الرخصة، أو تجديدها، أو إعادة إصدارها.
- Article 23
The article provides that notarization licenses are entered in the register with the competent department, and leaves the Regulations to state how the entry is made and the data it includes.
تقيد الرخص في الجدول لدى الإدارة المختصة، وتبين اللائحة كيفية القيد، وما يدرج فيه من بيانات.
- Article 24
The article allows licensed notaries and marriage officiants to advertise their profession in accordance with controls prepared by the competent department and issued by decision of the Minister of Justice.
للمرخص له الإعلان عن مهنته وفق ضوابط تعدها الإدارة المختصة، وتصدر بقرار من الوزير.
- Article 25
The article sets the fee for issuing a licensed notary's license at SAR 2,000 and for renewing it at SAR 1,000.
يستحصل على إصدار الرخصة للموثق رسم قدره ألفا ريال، وألف ريال عند التجديد.
- Article 26
The article prohibits practicing notarization work except after obtaining the license in accordance with the provisions of the Notarization Law and its Implementing Regulations.
يحظر ممارسة أعمال التوثيق إلا بعد الحصول على الرخصة وفقاً لأحكام النظام واللائحة.
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.