Procedures for Filing Commercial Lawsuits in Saudi Courts

The process of filing commercial lawsuits requires following specific legal procedures according to the Saudi Sharia Pleadings Law to ensure the case is properly and fairly considered.

The process begins by submitting a lawsuit statement before the competent commercial court in the area where the dispute occurred or in the defendant's area, with submission of all required documents and specified court fees.

Required documents include the original commercial contract or certified copy, commercial invoices, financial receipts, and documents proving the case such as correspondence and agreements.

All documents must be translated into Arabic and certified by competent authorities if they are in English.

After filing the lawsuit, a first hearing is scheduled to consider the case within a period ranging from 15-30 days, giving the defendant a deadline to respond ranging from 10-15 days.

In the scheduled hearing, parties to the lawsuit are heard and submitted documents are reviewed, with the possibility of requesting witnesses or experts if necessary.

After pleadings conclude and all evidence is reviewed, an appropriate judgment is issued by the court within a period ranging from 30-60 days.

The losing party can appeal the judgment before the Court of Appeal within 30 days from the date of judgment issuance.

After the judgment becomes final, it is executed through competent authorities such as the Execution Court.