What Are the Types of Courts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?

Courts in the Saudi Judicial System are classified according to the litigation proceedings into four entities, each of which has its own regulations and legislation.

First Instance Courts are of qualitative and spatial jurisdiction. They address disputes of different subject matter and importance, and are thus divided into five courts: Public Courts, Judicial Courts, Personal Status Courts, Labor Courts, and Commercial Courts, dispersed throughout all provinces and governorates of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Appellate Courts review the judgments issued by the First Instance Courts and appeal them in front of higher courts for judicial review. Each province is assigned one or more Appellate Courts.

At the pinnacle of the legal system is the Supreme Court which has the jurisdiction to receive complaints against the court that rendered the impugned decision. It reviews rulings in terms of the correct application of the legal and statutory rules during the trial. There is only one Supreme Court in the Kingdom, and it is headquartered in Riyadh.

Enforcement Courts proceed to adjudicate execution disputes, in accordance with Summary Judgments. They are composed of specialized chambers with the power to execute and supervise the compulsory execution. These courts are spread throughout the cities and governorates of the Kingdom.