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Saudi Arabia Practice
SCCA arbitration, Saudi Commercial Courts, Board of Grievances, ICC arbitration, construction claims, and cross-border enforcement — represented by legal consultants who understand both Saudi law and international arbitration practice.
Saudi Arabia's dispute resolution framework has been fundamentally reformed. The new Civil Transactions Law (2023) — the Kingdom's first comprehensive civil code — provides a statutory framework for contract interpretation, breach, and damages that replaces previously uncodified principles. The reformed Commercial Courts have modernised procedures and significantly improved efficiency. The Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) now administers arbitrations under UNCITRAL-based rules with international credibility.
For international businesses operating in the Kingdom, these reforms create a more predictable — but no less complex — dispute resolution environment. The interaction between the new civil code, remaining Sharia-based principles that still inform judicial reasoning, the GTPL framework for government contract disputes, and the various arbitration options requires legal consultants with deep Saudi litigation and arbitration experience.
GSDA's dispute resolution team in Saudi Arabia represents international contractors, investors, and corporations across the full spectrum of Saudi dispute resolution — Commercial Courts, Board of Grievances, Labour Courts, SCCA arbitration, and ICC arbitration seated in Riyadh. Our Paris-GCC network enables coordination of cross-border disputes that span multiple jurisdictions.
Full representation in SCCA proceedings — from pre-arbitration strategy, tribunal constitution, and preliminary applications through oral hearings, post-hearing submissions, and award enforcement under the New York Convention.
Advocacy before the Commercial Courts in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam — contract disputes, shareholder disputes, commercial fraud, and enforcement of domestic and foreign judgments.
Representation in government contract disputes before the Board of Grievances — the mandatory forum for claims arising from Saudi government and semi-government procurement contracts.
End-to-end management of construction disputes — forensic delay analysis, quantum preparation, expert witness coordination, and arbitration or court advocacy for claims arising from giga-projects and infrastructure programmes.
Enforcement of foreign arbitral awards and judgments in Saudi Arabia, and enforcement of Saudi awards and judgments abroad — navigating the New York Convention, bilateral treaties, and Saudi public policy considerations.
Representation in ICC arbitration seated in Riyadh or abroad — particularly for disputes arising from international joint ventures, M&A transactions, and energy contracts with Saudi counterparties.
Yes. The Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) administers domestic and international arbitration under UNCITRAL-based rules. We represent international contractors, investors, and corporations in SCCA arbitration proceedings — from pre-arbitration strategy and tribunal constitution through hearing advocacy to award enforcement. Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the New York Convention, which facilitates enforcement of foreign arbitral awards.
The Commercial Courts handle private commercial litigation (contract disputes, company disputes, commercial fraud). The Board of Grievances (Diwan al-Mazalim) hears administrative disputes and government contract claims. The Labour Courts handle employment disputes. GSDA represents clients across all three systems, with particular expertise in construction-related commercial disputes and government contract claims before the Board of Grievances.
Saudi Arabia ratified the New York Convention in 1994, providing a framework for enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. The Enforcement Law and the Saudi Arbitration Law establish the procedural framework. We advise on enforcement applications before the competent Saudi courts — including analysis of potential grounds for refusal and strategy for managing Saudi public policy objections.
The Civil Transactions Law (2023) — Saudi Arabia's first comprehensive civil code — codifies contract law, tort, and property rights in 721 articles. This replaces previously uncodified Sharia-based commercial principles with a statute-based framework. For disputes arising after its effective date, the CTL provides predictable rules on contract interpretation, breach, damages, and remedies that align more closely with international civil law systems.
Cross-border dispute resolution is one of our core capabilities. With offices across Paris, the GCC, and North Africa, we manage disputes that span multiple jurisdictions — coordinating proceedings in Saudi courts or SCCA arbitration with parallel actions in other jurisdictions, handling enforcement of Saudi judgments abroad, and managing the conflicts of law issues that arise in international commercial disputes.
Contact our dispute resolution team for a confidential assessment of your matter.