A judgment against you is not the end. Saudi law allows an appeal to the Court of Appeal, then in specific cases cassation before the Supreme Court, and a petition for reconsideration.
Routes
| Route | Body | When |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal | Court of Appeal | The main route against a first-instance judgment, on facts and law |
| Cassation | Supreme Court | Against appeal judgments, on limited grounds such as breach of Sharia or law, or lack of jurisdiction |
| Reconsideration | The issuing court | Exceptional cases, such as a decisive hidden document or false testimony |
Deadlines
The appeal period is thirty days as a rule, ten days in urgent matters, from receiving the judgment or the date the law sets. Missing it makes the judgment final. Check the current official text and rely on the period stated in the judgment or on Najiz.
How the appeal runs
- File the objection memorandum on Najiz. Start from the objection template.
- The issuing circuit may review its judgment before sending it up.
- The Court of Appeal hears it on the papers or with pleadings.
- It upholds, reverses, amends or decides the case.
Mistakes
- Waiting until the last day.
- Repeating the claim instead of pinpointing the judgment's errors.
- Treating cassation as a third chance to argue the facts.
Judgment against you?
Usus Law Firm drafts objections and pleads before courts of appeal as part of court litigation, in Riyadh and Tabuk, and advises in English.
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.
Request a quick consultation
Leave your name and mobile number, and a lawyer from our Riyadh or Tabuk office will call you during working hours. We advise in English.
