One of the first questions before filing any lawsuit is: which court handles my case? Getting jurisdiction wrong can mean your case is dismissed and has to be filed again, losing weeks or months. The judiciary in Saudi Arabia is divided among specialised courts, each with its own type of case. Here we bring together in one table which court or body hears your dispute, with links to a guide on each.
Jurisdiction table: which body hears your case?
| Type of dispute | Competent body | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce, khula, custody, maintenance and visitation | Personal Status Court | Khula conditions |
| Determination of heirs and division of estates | Personal Status Court | Determining heirs and dividing an estate |
| Employment disputes between employee and employer | Amicable settlement first, then the Labour Court | Filing a labour case |
| Disputes between traders and companies, and disputes between partners | Commercial Court | The Companies Law explained |
| Criminal cases | The Public Prosecution for investigation, then the Criminal Court | Law of Criminal Procedure |
| Enforcing judgments and enforceable instruments (promissory notes, registered leases...) | Enforcement Court | The Enforcement Court |
| Administrative decisions, government contracts and the rights of government employees | Board of Grievances (administrative courts) | Grievances before the Board of Grievances |
| General civil and real estate disputes, and similar matters not within a specialised court's jurisdiction | General Court | Law of Procedure before Sharia Courts |
| Banking and finance disputes, securities, customs, tax and others | Specialised quasi-judicial committees | Quasi-judicial committees |
| A commercial dispute where the contract has an arbitration clause | The agreed arbitral tribunal | Commercial arbitration |
This is a simplified table of common situations. The detailed allocation of jurisdiction is set by law, some situations may overlap or change with later regulatory decisions, so check the current official text when in doubt.
Territorial jurisdiction: which city do you file in?
The general rule is that a case is filed with the court covering the defendant's place of residence, with exceptions set by law, including:
- Claims in rem over real estate are usually filed where the property is located.
- In some personal status cases, a woman or the custodial parent may file in their own city.
- Claims against companies may be filed where the head office or a branch is located, depending on the subject of the dispute.
- The contract may specify a court or body for resolving disputes.
Because lawsuits are now filed online through Najiz (the Ministry of Justice e-services platform), the correct court is chosen when you fill in the application. Read Filing a lawsuit on Najiz.
What if you file before a court that lacks jurisdiction?
The court rules that it has no jurisdiction, and in some cases may refer the case to the competent body, but either way you lose time. In cases tied to deadlines, such as challenging an administrative decision or a labour claim, the lost time may affect whether your case is accepted.
Frequently asked questions
My dispute is with a company and I am an individual. Is it commercial?
Not necessarily. What matters is the nature of the dispute and the parties, as defined by law. A consumer's dispute with a company may not fall within the Commercial Court's jurisdiction.
Where are rental disputes heard?
A lease registered on Ejar (the official rental platform) is an enforceable instrument that is submitted to the Enforcement Court in specified cases of payment and eviction. Other rental disputes are heard by the competent court according to their nature. Read The unified lease contract.
Not sure where to file your case?
Send us a short description of your dispute, and the Usus Law Firm team will identify the competent body and the first step. You can also use the enquiries centre, or contact our office in Riyadh or Tabuk. Court proceedings are in Arabic, and we can advise you 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.
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