Article 37 of the Saudi Notarization Law
المادة 37 من نظام التوثيق · الفصل الثاني: إجراءات التوثيق
The article requires the notary and the licensee to accept documents issued outside the Kingdom after verifying that they do not conflict with Sharia or statutory requirements and after the Ministry attests them, and this applies to the original of their Arabic translation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على كاتب العدل والمرخص له اعتماد الوثائق الصادرة من خارج المملكة بعد التحقق من عدم مخالفتها للمقتضى الشرعي أو النظامي وتصديق الوزارة عليها، ويسري ذلك على أصل ترجمتها إلى اللغة العربية.
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 37 explained in plain English
This article deals with a common situation: a person holds a document issued outside the Kingdom and wants to rely on it in a notarization transaction inside the Kingdom, such as a power of attorney or a document issued in another country.
The article requires the notary and the licensee (the licensed notary or marriage officiant) to accept such documents, but only after two things are both established:
- Verification that the document does not conflict with Sharia or statutory requirements. A document that conflicts with them is not accepted.
- Attestation by the Ministry. Under the Law's definitions, the Ministry is the Ministry of Justice.
The article then provides that this rule applies to the original of the document's Arabic translation. That is, the original of the Arabic translation of the foreign document is subject to the same two conditions: verification that it does not conflict with Sharia or statutory requirements, and attestation by the Ministry.
The article is linked to Article 36, which requires contracts and acknowledgments to be notarized in Arabic, which is why the Arabic translation of foreign documents matters. It is also linked to Article 38, which sets the term of a power of attorney deed at five years from its date of issue unless it is revoked, one of its parties dies or loses capacity before then, or the principal sets a shorter term.
The article does not give the detailed steps of attestation or the other bodies the document may pass through, so anyone with a foreign document may consult a lawyer who specializes in notarization and contracts or in international matters.
Practical example
Khalid, a Saudi living abroad, issued a power of attorney to his brother in his country of residence. When the brother wants to rely on it before a licensed notary in Dammam, the notary accepts it after verifying that it does not conflict with Sharia or statutory requirements and after the Ministry of Justice has attested it, and the same rule applies to the original of its Arabic translation.
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 37 of the Saudi Notarization Law
Is a power of attorney issued outside Saudi Arabia accepted by the notary?
Under Article 37, documents issued outside the Kingdom are accepted after verifying that they do not conflict with Sharia or statutory requirements and after the Ministry of Justice attests them.
Does the translation of a foreign document need attestation?
Yes. The article provides that the same rule applies to the original of the document's Arabic translation.
Who must accept foreign documents?
The notary and the licensee, meaning the licensed notary or marriage officiant, once the two conditions in the article are met.
More articles on Notarization Procedures and Powers of Attorney
- Article 30
The article requires the notary to receive notarization requests and take the necessary steps under the Law and its Regulations, and gives anyone whose request is refused the right to file a grievance with the competent department.
على كاتب العدل تلقي طلبات التوثيق، واتخاذ ما يلزم في شأنها، وفقاً لأحكام النظام ولائحته، ولمن رُفض طلبه حق التظلم لدى الإدارة المختصة.
- Article 34
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the statement of notarization procedures followed at the notary's office and with the licensee, whether a licensed notary or a marriage officiant.
تبين اللائحة إجراءات التوثيق لدى كتابة العدل، ولدى المرخص له.
- Article 35
The article permits recording notarization data electronically and gives it the status of written documents in accordance with the provisions of the Electronic Transactions Law.
يجوز تدوين بيانات التوثيق إلكترونيًّا، ويكون لها حكم المحررات المكتوبة، وفقًا لأحكام نظام التعاملات الإلكترونية.
- Article 36
The article requires contracts and acknowledgments to be notarized in Arabic.
توثق العقود والإقرارات باللغة العربية.
- Article 38Amended by M/21
The article sets the term of a power of attorney deed at five years from its date of issue, unless it ends earlier through revocation, death, loss of capacity, or a shorter term set by the principal.
تكون مدة صك الوكالة خمس سنوات من تاريخ صدوره ما لم تُفسخ أو يُتوفى أحد طرفيها أو تُفقد أهليته قبل مضي هذه المدة أو يحدد الموكل مدتها بما يقل عن تلك المدة
- Article 39
The article requires notarization records to be kept at the notary's office and with licensees, and refers to the Regulations the controls for this, the procedures for handing over the records, copies of notarized contracts, and the departments competent to receive them.
تُحفظ أوعية التوثيق في كتابة العدل ولدى المرخص لهم، وتحدد اللائحة ضوابط ذلك، وإجراءات تسليم أوعية التوثيق، ونسخ العقود الموثقة، والإدارات المختصة بتسلمها.
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.