Saudi Arabia’s New Enforcement Law Takes Effect

Saudi Arabia’s new enforcement law took effect after 180 days from its publication in the official gazette.

It changes how courts enforce debts and other legal obligations, with the stated aim of delivering rights faster and improving court efficiency.

The law focuses enforcement on a debtor’s assets rather than their person, and requires enforcement documents to be registered electronically.

It sets a 10-year limitation period for enforcement documents and allows debtors to seek enforcement of obligations owed to them by another party.

Courts may order detention for up to 180 days in some cases after compulsory enforcement steps have begun, but detention is barred for people under 18, people with certain serious medical conditions, pregnant women or mothers of children under two, and people who are direct ancestors or descendants of the creditor.

The law also sets rules for travel bans, disclosure of assets and family matters such as child visitation.

It is intended to support contract enforcement and allow some enforcement work to be carried out by private and nonprofit organizations under legal rules.