In brief
Guarantees judicial independence and governs the Supreme Judicial Council, the hierarchy and jurisdiction of the courts (Supreme Court, courts of appeal and first-instance courts), judges' appointment, promotion and discipline, and notaries public.
Summary of the law
Key points
- First-instance courts are the general, criminal, personal status, commercial and labour courts, above them the courts of appeal and then the Supreme Court.
- The law decides which court hears a case; filing procedure and appeal deadlines are in the procedural laws (Sharia courts procedure, criminal procedure and commercial courts).
Practical tip
- Choosing the court with subject-matter jurisdiction from the start saves time; a claim filed in the wrong court is referred or dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
A plain-language summary prepared by Al-Bayan Al-Wadih Law Firm, focused on the violations and problems that come up most in daily life. It is not a substitute for the official text or for legal advice.
What it covers
- Judicial independence
- Supreme Judicial Council
- Court hierarchy and jurisdiction
- Judges' affairs
Timeline
- Issued: Royal Decree M/78 · 19/9/1428H
- Amendments: Royal Decree M/81 · 13/7/1440H. Amendment to some articles (shown on the law's page at the Bureau of Experts)
Full record of amendments and regulations at the official source
Official text at the Bureau of Experts
The authoritative text is in Arabic; the Bureau of Experts publishes English translations for some laws.
Full official text
The full official text is in Arabic and is reproduced on the Arabic version of this page, as published by the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers. Read the full Arabic text
Library content is simplified general information for awareness only. It is not legal advice and does not replace the official text. Laws change: always check the official source and consult a lawyer before acting. Library data last reviewed: .