Overviews of Saudi laws and regulations relevant to our practice areas.
The Companies Law provides the general framework for companies subject to its provisions in Saudi Arabia, covering how a company is formed and managed and the obligations that continue throughout its life. Understanding this framework in general terms helps business owners and management recognize when a particular decision or transaction needs legal review before it is taken.
The Commercial Courts Law sets out which judicial body has jurisdiction over commercial disputes in Saudi Arabia, and the general framework for how such a dispute proceeds from filing through to judgment and beyond.
The Law of Evidence sets the rules for how facts are proven before the courts in Saudi Arabia, including the burden of proof and the recognized means of proof, a framework that touches almost every commercial dispute.
The Civil Transactions Law sets the general framework for contract rules in Saudi Arabia, covering how a contract is formed, performed, breached, and the periods after which claims for the rights it creates will no longer be heard.
The Labor Law governs the relationship between employers and workers in the Saudi private sector, from its scope of application to its key statutory entitlements, several of which were amended effective early 2025.
The Personal Status Law governs family matters in Saudi Arabia, from engagement and marriage to the separation of spouses and its effects, and from guardianship of minors to wills and inheritance.
The Real Estate Registration Law makes the property itself the basis for recording rights in the real estate register, which has absolute evidential force. This overview covers first registration and objections to it, the effect of registration on ownership, sale and inheritance, and the authority responsible for it.
