Judicial Enforcement

What do we offer in this area?

• Reviewing debt documents, instruments and judgments
• Preparing claims and following up on amicable collection
• Following up on enforcement procedures within the scope of the engagement

The scope of work and required documents are determined after reviewing the matter and agreeing on the engagement.

When Should a Business Resort to Judicial Enforcement?

Judicial enforcement comes into play after the company obtains an enforcement instrument and the debtor does not proceed to satisfy it. The Enforcement Court handles its procedures, and does not, in principle, reconsider the underlying right, but rather verifies that the instrument satisfies its conditions and that the right under it is fixed in amount and due for payment. Therefore, the work begins with examining the instrument before filing the request, since a formal defect may lead to the request being returned for completion or rejected. Common instruments in company files include:

• Final judgments and judgments subject to immediate enforcement
• Arbitral awards once the requirements for their enforcement are met
• Notarized settlement minutes and documents, including those issued through the Taradhi platform
• Negotiable instruments such as checks and promissory notes
• Notarized contracts and acknowledgments

Steps for a business to submit an enforcement request via Najiz

An enforcement request is submitted electronically through the "Submit Enforcement Request" service on the Najiz platform. The business needs an active bank account in its name to receive collected amounts, a copy of the enforcement instrument, the judgment debtor's information, and a valid power of attorney authorizing the agent to submit enforcement requests. The enforcement order is then issued and served on the debtor, and the current law grants the debtor five days from the date of notification to pay or disclose sufficient funds to satisfy the debt. If the business does not yet hold an enforcement instrument, the process begins with Debt Collection and Financial Claims.

• Examining the instrument and confirming its data is complete and it is due
• Preparing the request, attaching the documents, and specifying the amount claimed
• Following up on notice and the expiry of the statutory period
• Requesting the measures following the deadline, and following up on attachment and the transfer of funds
• Closing the request after the right is satisfied

Suspension of services and Enforcement Court measures after the deadline

If the deadline lapses without payment or sufficient disclosure, the Enforcement Court orders the measures set out in Article 46 of the current law, which many refer to as service suspension, including a travel ban, disclosure and seizure of the debtor's assets, disclosure of their commercial records, and notifying licensed credit information registration bodies. For details, read The Enforcement Law and Service Suspension.

When the business is the judgment debtor, the instrument and the amount should be reviewed as soon as notification is received to determine whether there are grounds to contest enforcement, or whether payment or disclosure of sufficient funds is less damaging to its operations and bank accounts.

The New Enforcement Law: What Should Businesses Prepare For?

The new Enforcement Law was issued by Royal Decree No. (M/237) dated 3/11/1447H, published in the Official Gazette in May 2026, and takes effect after one hundred eighty days from its publication, i.e., around late October 2026, with the current law remaining in force until then. Among the most notable points of interest to businesses, in addition to what is covered in the article The Promissory Note:

• Expressly providing for checks among the enforcement instruments
• Requiring bills of exchange and promissory notes to be registered on national electronic platforms, with a one-year grace period after it takes effect for instruments issued before it that meet the other conditions
• A payment deadline of five working days, extended by ten working days if the party against whom enforcement is sought provides an adequate bank guarantee
• The permissibility of imposing a daily fine not exceeding SAR 5,000 for each day that passes without completing enforcement

Frequently asked questions

Can a Business Enforce a Check or Promissory Note Without a Court Judgment?

Yes, the current Enforcement Law treats commercial paper as an enforcement instrument, so an enforcement request may be filed on it directly once it satisfies its conditions. After the new law takes effect, promissory notes and bills of exchange must be registered on the national electronic platforms, with a one-year grace period for instruments issued before it took effect and meeting the other conditions.

What should a business do if an enforcement request is filed against it?

The instrument is reviewed immediately for its validity, amount, and due date, and the deadline is calculated from the date of service. If there is a ground relating to the validity of the instrument, the conditions for its enforcement, or the court's jurisdiction, an enforcement dispute may be filed; otherwise, promptly paying or disclosing sufficient funds spares the company the seizure and restriction measures that follow the deadline.

Does the New Enforcement Law Apply Now?

Not yet. The new law was issued by Royal Decree No. (M/237) dated 3/11/1447H, and takes effect one hundred eighty days after its publication in the Official Gazette, i.e., around late October 2026. Until that date, requests are considered under the current Enforcement Law, and its implementing regulations must be followed once issued to know the application details.