Saudi Law

Article 21

An arbitration clause which forms part of a contract shall be treated as an agreement independent of the other terms of the contract. The nullification, revocation or termination of the contract which includes said arbitration clause shall not entail nullification of the arbitration clause therein, if such clause is valid.

Article 22

1. The competent court may, upon the request of either party, order provisional or precautionary measures prior to commencing arbitration proceedings, or upon request by the arbitration tribunal during arbitration proceedings. Said measures may be revoked in the same way, unless otherwise agreed by the two parties to arbitration.

2. The competent court may, upon request by the arbitration tribunal, issue an order of judicial delegation.

3. The arbitration tribunal may, as it deems fit, seek the assistance of the competent agency in the arbitration proceedings, such as calling a witness or an expert, ordering the submission of a document or a copy thereof, reviewing said document, or any other proceeding, without prejudice to the right of the arbitration tribunal to conduct said proceeding independently.

Article 23

1. The two parties to arbitration may agree that the arbitration tribunal shall, upon the request of either party, order either party to take, as it deems fit, any provisional or precautionary measures required by the nature of the dispute. The arbitration tribunal may require the party requesting such measures to provide sufficient financial guarantee for the execution of such proceeding.

2. If the party against whom the order has been issued fails to execute such an order, the arbitration tribunal may, upon the request of the other party, authorize said party to take necessary measures for its execution, without prejudice to the right of the arbitration tribunal or the other party to request the competent agency to enforce such order.

Article 24

1. Upon appointment of an arbitrator, a separate contract shall be concluded with him specifying his fees. A copy of the contract shall be deposited with the agency specified in the Implementing Regulations of this Law.

2. In the absence of such agreement between the two parties to arbitration and arbitrators regarding arbitrators’ fees, the competent court shall decide the matter pursuant to a non-appealable decision. If the arbitrators are appointed by the competent court, said court shall determine their fees.

Arbitration Proceedings

Article 25

1. The two parties to arbitration may agree on procedures to be followed by the arbitration tribunal in conducting the proceedings, including their right to subject such proceedings to effective rules of any organization, agency or arbitration center within the Kingdom or abroad, provided said rules are not in conflict with the provisions of Sharia.

2. In the absence of such an agreement, the arbitration tribunal may, subject to the provisions of Sharia and this Law, decide the arbitration proceedings it deems fit.

Article 26

The arbitration proceedings shall commence on the day a request for arbitration made by one arbitration party is received by the other party, unless otherwise agreed by both parties.

Article 27

The two parties to arbitration shall be treated equally, allowing each party a full and equal opportunity to present his case or defense.

Article 28

The two parties to arbitration may agree on the venue of arbitration within the Kingdom or abroad. In the absence of such an agreement, the venue of arbitration shall be determined by the arbitration tribunal, having regard to the circumstances of the case, including the convenience of the venue to both parties. This shall not prejudice the power of the arbitration tribunal to convene at any venue it deems appropriate for deliberation; hearing of witnesses, experts or the parties to the dispute; inspection of the subject matter of the dispute; and examination of documents or review thereof.

Article 29

1. Arbitration shall be conducted in Arabic, unless the arbitration tribunal or the two parties to arbitration, agree on another language or languages. Such agreement or decision shall apply to the language of the written statements and notes, oral arguments and any decision, message or award made by the arbitration tribunal, unless otherwise agreed by both parties or decided by the arbitration tribunal.

2. The arbitration tribunal may require that all or some of the written documents submitted in the case be accompanied by a translation into the language or languages used in the arbitration. In case of multiple languages, the arbitration tribunal may limit the translation to some of them.

Article 30

1. Within the period of time agreed upon by the parties or determined by the arbitration tribunal, the plaintiff shall send to the defendant and to each arbitrator a written statement of his claim, containing his name and address, name and address of the defendant, full statement of the facts of the claim, his demands, evidence; and any other matter required by the agreement of the two parties to be mentioned in this statement.

2. Within the period of time agreed upon by the parties or determined by the arbitration tribunal, the defendant shall send to the plaintiff and to each arbitrator a written statement of his defense in response to the statement of claim. The defendant may include in his response any demands connected to the subject-matter of the dispute, or may assert any right arising therefrom for the purpose of set-off defense. This right may be asserted to the defendant even at a subsequent phase of the proceedings, if the arbitration tribunal deems such delay justified.

3. Each party may submit with the statement of claim or response thereto, as the case may be, copies of supporting documents and cite all or some of the documents as well as the evidence he intends to submit. This shall not prejudice the arbitration tribunal's right at any phase of the case to request submission of the original documents on which either party relies, or copies thereof.


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