Justice and Judiciary
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia places great importance on justice and the judiciary, believing in the necessity of achieving fairness and ensuring the rights of individuals. The Ministry of Justice is the key element in achieving this goal, focusing on developing the judicial system and simplifying legal procedures in accordance with Islamic law and human rights principles, through updating laws and providing electronic services. The ministry also aims to enhance the integrity and efficiency of the judiciary, which contributes to the stability and development of society.You can explore the available services through the following link.
Court Classifications in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Courts are a fundamental pillar in the state, playing an important role in ensuring the security and stability of the country and protecting the public and private interests of the people. The judicial system in the Kingdom is divided into four entities, each with its own system and legislation.
The Supreme Court is the highest level in the judicial structure and works to review cases that involve Hudood (punishments) such as murder, amputation, stoning, or Qisas (retaliation) for crimes of equal severity and lesser. Its role is limited to examining the proper application of Sharia and regulatory rules without intervening in the assessment of evidence or facts.
The Supreme Court is responsible for:
Reviewing Hudood cases
Monitoring rulings issued by appellate courts
Considering requests to reinstate proceedings after a case is dismissed
Deciding on requests for reconsideration of its rulings
Appellate courts are responsible for reviewing rulings issued by first-instance courts after hearing the parties’ statements in accordance with the procedures prescribed by applicable regulations. Appellate courts also handle requests for reconsideration of judgments.
First-instance courts are divided into general courts, criminal courts, labor courts, commercial courts, and family courts, each with its jurisdiction based on the type of case (special jurisdiction) or the location of the dispute (territorial jurisdiction).
Enforcement courts are responsible for resolving enforcement disputes, regardless of their value. They consist of specialized chambers and carry out the enforcement of executable documents in accordance with the relevant laws.
Issuing Laws in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The process of issuing laws in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia follows five stages:
Proposal Stage: Preparing the initial draft of the law and presenting it to the relevant authority.
Voting Stage: Submitting the draft to the regulatory authority for voting.
Ratification Stage: Obtaining approval from the President of the session and the King's ratification.
Issuance Stage: Legally registering the system.
Publication Stage: Announcing the law to the public and specifying its implementation date.
