Article 55 of the Saudi Notarization Law
المادة 55 من نظام التوثيق · الباب الخامس: أحكام ختامية
The article provides that the civil service laws and regulations apply to notaries in matters on which the Notarization Law has no special provision.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
فيما لم يرد فيه نص خاص في النظام، تسري أنظمة ولوائح الخدمة المدنية على كتاب العدل.
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 55 explained in plain English
This article identifies the fallback reference that governs the employment status of notaries.
The rule: in matters on which the Notarization Law has no special provision, the civil service laws and regulations apply to notaries.
In practice:
- If the Notarization Law regulates a matter concerning the notary, the special provision of the Notarization Law is the one applied.
- If the Notarization Law contains no special provision on the matter, the civil service laws and regulations are referred to.
Why notaries specifically? Because under Article 1 the notary is a government employee with Sharia qualifications, appointed to the post of notary or head of a notary's office. The article does not mention licensees, that is, licensed notaries and marriage officiants, who work under a license and are not appointed to posts.
An example of a matter with a special provision in the Notarization Law is the fees for the notary's work in Article 54, which allows them to be collected, with their amount set by the Council of Ministers on the Minister's proposal.
The article is also linked to Article 56, which requires the Minister to issue the Implementing Regulations after coordination with the Supreme Judicial Council within 180 days of the date of issue of the Law.
The article does not specify the particular matters to which the civil service laws apply, so anyone with an employment matter concerning a notary may consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative matters.
Practical example
A notary in Madinah faces an employment matter on which the Notarization Law has no special provision. In that case the civil service laws and regulations are referred to for its ruling, because Article 55 makes them the reference on matters without a special provision.
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 55 of the Saudi Notarization Law
Is the notary subject to the civil service law?
Yes. In matters on which the Notarization Law has no special provision, the civil service laws and regulations apply to notaries, under Article 55.
Does the civil service law apply to the licensed notary?
Article 55 mentions only notaries and does not mention licensees, meaning licensed notaries and marriage officiants.
Which comes first, the Notarization Law or the civil service law?
The special provision in the Notarization Law comes first, and the civil service laws are referred to only on matters with no special provision.
More articles on Appointing a Notary Public
- Article 3
The article makes establishing Notary Offices, setting their subject-matter and territorial jurisdiction and composition, and abolishing them subject to a decision of the Minister of Justice, with the head of the Notary Office supervising.
يكون إنشاء كتابات العدل، وتحديد دوائر اختصاصها النوعي والمكاني وتكوينها، وإلغاؤها، بقرار يصدره الوزير، ويشرف رئيس كتابة العدل على كتاب العدل فيها.
- Article 4
The article sets five conditions for appointing a notary, including original Saudi nationality, good conduct, health fitness, a Sharia degree, and passing a written examination.
يشترط فيمن يعين كاتب عدل ما يأتي: 1- أن يكون سعودي الجنسية بالأصل. 2- أن يكون حسن السيرة والسلوك، وألا يكون محكوماً عليه بجريمة مخلة بالدين أو الشرف، أو صدر في
- Article 5
After appointment a notary must take a training course of at least 3 months and serve a two-year probation period; the Minister decides to dispense with them if they prove unfit.
يخضع كاتب العدل -بعد تعيينه- لدورة تدريبية تطبيقية في مجال عمله لا تقل مدتها عن (3) أشهر، وتكون مدة التجربة له سنتين من تاريخ مباشرته للعمل بعد صدور قرار تعيينه
- Article 6
The article classifies notary posts into eight: notary (D), (C), (B) and (A), then head of notary office (D), (C), (B) and (A).
تصنف وظائف كُتاب العدل على النحو الآتي: كاتب عدل (د)، كاتب عدل (ج)، كاتب عدل (ب)، كاتب عدل (أ)، رئيس كتابة عدل (د)، رئيس كتابة عدل (ج)، رئيس كتابة عدل (ب)، رئيس
- Article 7
The article sets the qualifications and experience required for each of the posts of notary (D), (C), (B) and (A), and leaves the Regulations to specify the type of experience.
تحدد المؤهلات المطلوبة لشغل وظائف كُتاب العدل على النحو الآتي: 1- كاتب عدل (د): أن يكون حاصلاً على شهادة جامعية في تخصص الشريعة أو ما يعادلها بتقدير عام لا يقل
- Article 8
The article requires at least two years in the post of notary (A) for promotion to head of notary office (D), and two years in the previous post for promotion to (C), (B) and (A).
1- يشترط للترقية إلى وظيفة رئيس كتابة عدل (د) أن يكون المرشح قد أمضى سنتين على الأقل في وظيفة كاتب عدل (أ). 2- يشترط للترقية إلى وظائف: رئيس كتابة عدل (أ) و(ب)
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.