If a government body has issued a decision against you that you believe is unjust, such as dismissal from a government job, withdrawal of a licence, denial of a right, or a delay in paying what is due under a contract with a government body, the route is the administrative judiciary at the Board of Grievances (ديوان المظالم). But this route has a step before it, and short deadlines that can cost you your right if you miss them. This guide explains when to go to the Board of Grievances, what a grievance (التظلم) is, and how to file an administrative lawsuit.
What does the Board of Grievances hear?
| Type of case | Example |
|---|---|
| Annulment of administrative decisions | A dismissal decision, withdrawal of a licence, or an unjustified refusal of an application |
| Employment rights | Salaries, allowances and promotions of government employees |
| Compensation | Harm caused by a decision or act of an administrative body |
| Administrative contracts | Amounts owed to contractors and suppliers by government bodies |
| Enforcement of Board of Grievances judgments | Enforcing a judgment issued against or in favour of an administrative body |
Step one: a grievance to the body itself
In cases seeking annulment of an administrative decision, the general rule is that you first submit a written grievance to the body that issued the decision, within the period set by law from the date you learned of the decision, which is sixty days as a general rule. If the body rejects your grievance or does not respond within the statutory period, the lawsuit is filed before the administrative court within the period set after that.
Note: missing the grievance deadline or the deadline for filing the lawsuit may stop your case being accepted, however clear your right is. Keep proof of the date you learned of the decision and the date you submitted the grievance.
How to write a strong grievance
- The decision number, its date and the body that issued it.
- Exactly what you object to, and why: breach of the law, an error of fact, lack of authority, or abuse of power.
- Supporting documents.
- Your request, stated clearly: annulment of the decision, amendment of it, or payment of what is due.
Grievances and administrative lawsuits are submitted in Arabic.
Filing the administrative lawsuit
Administrative lawsuits are filed online through the Board of Grievances e-portal, Mueen (معين), and are heard by the administrative courts. Their judgments can be challenged before the administrative courts of appeal and then the High Administrative Court, in accordance with the law. The procedure is governed by the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances, which differs in places from the Law of Procedure before Sharia Courts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sue a government body directly, without a grievance?
In cases seeking annulment of an administrative decision, a grievance is generally required first. Some other cases, such as contract and compensation claims, have their own rules. Identify the type of your case before you start.
Does a grievance suspend the decision?
Not as a general rule, but in some cases you can ask the court to suspend enforcement if carrying out the decision would cause harm that cannot be remedied.
Who enforces a judgment against a government body?
Board of Grievances judgments have special enforcement procedures before the enforcement circuits of the administrative courts.
Have an administrative decision you want to challenge?
The Usus Law Firm team handles administrative cases and quasi-judicial committees: the grievance, the lawsuit and the appeal, in Riyadh and Tabuk.
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
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