Implementing Regulations of the Law of Arbitration  
 
Ministerial Resolution  No. 541 
May 22, 201 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Translation of Saudi Laws  
 Implementing Regulations of the Law of Arbitration  
 
 
 
 2 NOTE:  
The translation of Saudi laws takes the following into consideration:  
• Words used in the singular form include the plural and vice versa.  
• Words used in the masculine form include the feminine.  
• Words used in the present tense include the present as well as the future.  
• The word “person” or “persons” and their related pronouns (he, his, him, they, 
their, them) refer to a natural and legal person.  
 
   Implementing Regulations of the Law of Arbitration  
 
 
 
 3 Implementing Regulations of the Law of Arbitrat ion 
Article 1  
In these Regulations, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings 
assigned thereto:  
Law: Law of Arbitration  
Regulations: Implementing Regulations of the Law   
Article 2  
For the application of the Law and these Regulations, the competent court 
referred to in the Law and these Regulations shall mean the court of appeal 
having original jurisdiction over the dispute, except for the cases specified in 
Articles 9(1), 12, 40(3) of the Law.  
Article 3  
1. Subject to notifica tion-related provisions provided for in the Law, electronic 
means may be used for serving notifications.  
2. Absent a specific provision, the periods stipulated in the Law and these 
Regulations shall come into effect on the day following the notification date,  
unless the parties to arbitration agree otherwise. If the last day coincides with 
an official holiday in the domicile of the notified person, the period shall be 
extended to the first business day thereafter; otherwise, said holiday shall be 
included in t he period.  
Article 4  
The party requesting the competent court to appoint an arbitrator shall include 
in the request a copy of the arbitration application and a copy of the arbitration 
agreement.  
Article 5  
1. An arbitrator may, upon a request for his disqualification, recuse himself from 
hearing a dispute without providing justification; such action shall not be 
deemed an admission by the arbitrator of the validity of the grounds upon 
which the party seeking disqualification based his request.  
2. A reques t for the disqualification of an arbitrator shall not be accepted after 
the closing of arguments.   Implementing Regulations of the Law of Arbitration  
 
 
 
 4 Article 6  
If an arbitrator’s mandate expires in the cases specified in Article 19 of the Law, 
except where such mandate expires due to his disqualification, t he arbitration 
proceedings shall be stayed until a replacement is appointed in accordance 
with the Law.  
Article 7  
1. A copy of the contract concluded with an arbitrator shall, as applicable, be 
deposited with the Saudi Arbitration Center or with any other arb itration 
center, tribunal, or organization.  
2. The court may, upon determining an arbitrator’s fee, request a copy of the 
contract concluded with said arbitrator, if any.  
Article 8  
If the parties to arbitration fail to agree on its arbitration proceedings, th e 
arbitration tribunal shall determine the proceedings it deems suitable in 
accordance with the provisions of Article 25(2) of the Law and shall notify the 
parties thereof at least 10 days prior to their implementation.  
Article 9  
1. The party requesting arbit ration shall include the following information in the 
arbitration application referred to in Article 26 of the Law:  
a) his name, occupation, nationality, domicile, address, and contact 
information, as well as the name and occupation of his representative, if 
any; 
b) the name of the other party to the arbitration;  
c) a brief statement of the contractual relationship, the arbitration agreement, 
the subject and facts of the dispute, and the circumstances giving rise to 
the arbitration application;  
d) a brief account of the demands of the party requesting arbitration; and  
e) a proposal for the appointment of an arbitrator if no arbitrators are named 
and if a single arbitrator is required, or include the name of the arbitrator 
he selected if the tribunal is c omposed of three arbitrators or more.  
2. Any dispute regarding the adequacy of the information included in the 
arbitration application shall not preclude the formation of the arbitration 
tribunal; such dispute shall be resolved by the tribunal.   Implementing Regulations of the Law of Arbitration  
 
 
 
 5 Article 10  
If the arbitration tribunal is composed of a single arbitrator and the parties to 
arbitration fail to agree on his appointment, the competent court shall, pursuant 
to a petition filed by the party seeking to expedite the arbitration, appoint such 
arbitrator w ithin 15 days from the date the petition is filed.  
Article 11  
In case of multiple parties to arbitration, the proceedings shall commence on 
the day on which the last party receives the arbitration application.  
Article 12  
1. In the expert appointment decision,  the arbitration tribunal shall specify the 
expert’s duties and the urgent actions he is authorized to take; the report 
submission deadline; his fees; and, if applicable, the amount of the advance 
payment for his expenses, the party assigned to make such p ayment, and 
the payment deadline.  
2. If the party assigned to make the advance payment fails to do so and the 
other party does not make such payment, the expert shall not be obligated 
to carry out his duties, and the arbitration tribunal may continue the 
proceedings. The party assigned to make the advance payment may not 
invoke the expert appointment decision if the arbitration tribunal finds his 
failure to pay the prescribed amount unjustifiable.  
3. The arbitration tribunal may replace the expert or take any action it deems fit 
if the expert unjustifiably fails to meet the report submission deadline.  
Article 13  
The arbitration tribunal may accept the intervention or the joinder of a third 
party, upon the approval of the parties to arbitration and the party to be joined.  
Article 14  
1. The chairman  of the arbitration tribunal shall pronounce the award after the 
closing of arguments.  
2. The arbitration tribunal may, pursuant to a decision of which the parties to 
arbitration shall be notified, reopen arguments after the closing of arguments 
and prior to the pronouncement of the award.  
Article 15  
The decision by the arbitration tribunal to terminate the arbitration proceedings 
shall not render the arbitration agreement invalid, unless the parties agree  Implementing Regulations of the Law of Arbitration  
 
 
 
 6 otherwise.  
Article 1 6 
An additional award shall be subject to the provisions governing the arbitration 
award, except for the period of issuance.  
Article 17  
1. Any appeal of a decision vacating the arbitration award provided for in Article 
51(2) of the Law shall be heard by the Supreme Court.  
2. The competent authority referred to in Article 55(3) of the Law is the Supreme 
Court.  
Article 18  
1. An appeal for vacating the arbitration award shall not be accepted if the 
appellant waives his right to file the same upon the issuance thereof.  
2. The party filing the vacation appeal shall attach the following documents:  
a) the original arbitration award or a certified copy thereof;  
b) a true copy of the arbitration agreement; and  
c) a certified Arabic translation of the arbitration award if it is issued in 
another language.  
Article 19  
These Regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into 
force as of the date of its publication.