The General Court in Riyadh is one of the largest and busiest courts in the Kingdom. Before you turn to it, you need to know: is your case within its jurisdiction at all? Which circuit hears it? And how do you file and follow the case without attending every time? Here is a short practical guide.
What does the General Court hear?
The General Court has general jurisdiction: it hears every claim that no specialised court handles. The most common claims filed there are:
- Real estate claims: ownership, boundaries, division, and disputes over sales and transfers.
- Claims for compensation, including moral damage. Read compensation for moral damage.
- Civil money claims between individuals.
- Car accident claims for damage and blood money. Read car accidents and compensation.
- Certifications and proof of facts in the cases within its jurisdiction.
What does it not hear?
| Type of case | Competent court in Riyadh |
|---|---|
| A dispute between traders or partners | The Commercial Court |
| An employee–employer dispute | The Labor Court |
| Divorce, custody, maintenance or heirship | the Personal Status Court |
| A criminal case | the Criminal Court |
| Enforcing a judgment or cheque | the Enforcement Court |
| A dispute with a government body | The Administrative Court (Board of Grievances) |
See the full table in which court hears my case?
The court's circuits
The General Court in Riyadh works through specialised circuits, the best known being the civil circuits for civil and money claims, circuits for traffic accident claims, and circuits for real estate cases. The online system assigns the circuit when the claim is registered according to its type; the claimant does not choose the circuit.
How to file and follow a claim
- File the claim online through Najiz with a statement setting out the facts and requests clearly. Read filing a claim on Najiz and a statement-of-claim template.
- Follow the hearing date and notifications on Najiz; many hearings are held remotely.
- Submit memoranda and documents online before the hearing.
- If you need to attend in person, book an appointment through the Ministry of Justice e-services.
- After judgment: object before the Court of Appeal within the period. Read the Court of Appeal.
The organisation of circuits and appointment services keeps developing; check Najiz for the current service.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to attend the General Court in Riyadh?
In many cases no; the claim is filed online and hearings are held remotely, with attendance required in cases such as inspections or testimony.
I filed my claim in the wrong court. What happens?
The court rules it has no jurisdiction or transfers the case, and you lose time; so choose the right court from the start.
How long does a case at the General Court take?
It varies with the type of case, the number of hearings, and whether an expert or inspection is needed.
Is your case before the General Court in Riyadh?
The Usus Law Firm team handles general court cases from our office in Al Olaya. Branch details at lawyer in Riyadh.
Legal review: the Usus Law Firm team
A select team of lawyers and legal advisers licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Justice, working from Riyadh and Tabuk, with experience before the general, commercial, labor, criminal, personal status and administrative courts. Every article is reviewed before publication and updated when laws or regulations change.
Last reviewed: 12 October 2026
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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