Originally from The Practitioner’s Guide to Arbitration in the Middle East and North Africa

A. Arbitration Laws

1. Please identify by title and date the principal laws and regulations governing (i) domestic and (ii) international arbitration in your State.

Arbitration under Saudi law is governed by the Arbitration Law promulgated by Royal Decree No. M46 dated 12/07/1403 H (corresponding to 14 Septemper 1983) and its Executive Regulations promulgated by Prime Minister Resolution No. 7/2021 and dated 8/9/1405 (corresponding to 29 April 1985).

While there are no specific local laws dealing with enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Saudi Arabia, in practice, principles applicable to the enforcement of foreign judgments shall apply to foreign arbitral awards. Article 13 (G) of the Board of Grievances Law, dated 12 October 2007, stipulates that the Board of Grievances has the authority to accept applications for the enforcement of foreign judgments in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is also a signatory to the 1983 Convention on Judicial Co-operation between States of the Arab League (“Riyadh Convention”), the 1958 Convention for the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (“New York Convention”) and has ratified the 1995 Protocol on the Enforcement of Judgment Letters Rogatory and Judicial Notices issued by the Courts of the Member States of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (“GCC Protocol”) which comprises Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait.