Administrative Courts Guide (Board of Grievances)
If you have faced an unfair administrative decision from a government body, the Administrative Courts Guide (Board of Grievances) is your first step to understanding your rights, the litigation mechanism through the Saudi administrative judiciary, and the ways to file a lawsuit before the Board of Grievances.
What Is the Board of Grievances?
The Saudi Board of Grievances is an independent judicial body that reports directly to the King, with jurisdiction to hear administrative cases between individuals and government bodies, and it comprises three levels of litigation: the administrative courts, the administrative courts of appeal, and the Supreme Administrative Court.
To understand the procedural mechanism before the Board of Grievances, use the WhatsApp button to request a general consultation.
What Cases Do the Administrative Courts Hear?
The administrative courts have jurisdiction over cases in which one of the parties is an administrative body. The most prominent types of administrative cases in Saudi Arabia covered by the Administrative Courts Guide (Board of Grievances) are:
These include objections to decisions on appointment, dismissal, promotion, transfer or job freezing, if issued by a government body without a statutory justification.
These are lawsuits relating to violations or excesses in the award or execution procedures of administrative contracts, such as contracting and service contracts.
These include compensation cases, claims for material or moral compensation for damages resulting from unlawful administrative decisions or actions.
Such as objecting to a decision terminating service, revoking a license, or depriving someone of a statutory benefit, if the decision has a direct legal effect.
Such as lawsuits filed by a citizen or resident against a ministry, authority or public facility because of an excess or shortcoming in the performance of the service.
Such as challenging disciplinary penalties issued against public employees as a result of administrative investigations.
Such as claims for legitimate rights that the competent body has not implemented, or refraining from taking a decision that must be taken by law.
Who Turns to the Administrative Judiciary?
Administrative cases include multiple categories of individuals or entities harmed by administrative decisions or actions, and you can refer to the Administrative Courts Guide (Board of Grievances) to find out whether your situation falls within its jurisdiction.
Government Employee
Government employees often turn to the administrative court when filing grievances against job decisions that affect their career path, such as unjustified dismissal decisions, exclusion from promotion, or arbitrary transfer from one body to another.
Contractors with Government Bodies
This category includes companies, suppliers and contractors who have concluded contracts with government bodies and face disputes relating to performance, entitlements or the legal interpretation of the administrative contract.
Citizen or Resident
Individuals may be harmed by administrative decisions such as rejecting a license application, canceling a transaction, or an arbitrary action by an official body, which leads them to turn to the administrative court seeking redress.
Not sure whether your case falls within the jurisdiction of the administrative judiciary?
Use the WhatsApp button at the bottom of the page to get initial guidance from a specialist.
How Do You Choose the Right Court?
In some cases, the administrative court is not the competent body, and understanding the difference between the types of courts is an essential condition for filing the lawsuit in the right place.
| Court Type | When Is It Used? | Are Board of Grievances/administrative court cases included? |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Court | When challenging a decision issued by a government body or disputing an administrative contract | Yes ✅ |
| General Court | When there is a dispute between individuals or companies unrelated to a government body | No ❌ |
| Enforcement Court | To enforce a court judgment issued by a competent body after it becomes final | No ❌ |
Essential Guidelines Before Filing the Lawsuit
Preparing the lawsuit correctly before the Board of Grievances increases its chances of acceptance and saves the litigant valuable time. Here are the key points:
- Importance of jurisdiction: Determining judicial jurisdiction precisely is the basis for accepting the lawsuit, as a case filed before a court without jurisdiction is rejected in form even if the claims are legitimate.
- Effect of filing the lawsuit before a court without jurisdiction: Filing the lawsuit with a court without jurisdiction wastes time and effort, and delays reaching a substantive decision in the dispute.
- Verify the competent court: The litigant is responsible for choosing the appropriate court, based on the type of dispute and the nature of the defendant body.
- Observing the legal period: The specified period for filing the lawsuit is often 60 days from the date of learning of the decision, and delay leads to its rejection.
- Preparing an accurate statement of claim: Precise and detailed drafting of the facts and requests helps the court understand the case and speeds up its handling.
- Providing the required documents: Everything that supports the lawsuit should be attached, such as contracts, letters, administrative decisions and other documents.
- Proving capacity and interest: The claimant must be the party directly harmed by the decision, with proof of their capacity and relationship to the subject matter.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Administrative Judiciary
What is the Board of Grievances and what is its role in Saudi Arabia?
The Board of Grievances is the judicial body specialized in the administrative judiciary in Saudi Arabia, and has jurisdiction to hear disputes in which one of the parties is an administrative or government body. Its structure includes:
- The administrative courts: to hear first-instance cases.
- The administrative courts of appeal: to review the judgments issued.
- The Supreme Administrative Court: for statutory oversight and ensuring the fairness of judgments.
The Administrative Courts Guide (Board of Grievances) is the official source for the jurisdictions of these courts and their organizational structure.
What are the most prominent types of administrative cases in Saudi Arabia?
Within the Administrative Courts Guide, the jurisdictions of the administrative judiciary include the following:
- Challenges against administrative decisions.
- Employment cases and administrative violations.
- Disputes over government contracts and tenders.
- Compensation claims against government bodies.
Objecting to disciplinary procedures or employment decisions.
How do I file a lawsuit before the Board of Grievances?
Follow these steps through the Muin electronic platform:
- Register a new account on the Muin portal.
- Choose the type of case according to the Administrative Courts Guide.
- Upload the statement of claim and documents electronically.
- Follow the hearings electronically without attending the court.
The Board of Grievances’ electronic services have provided a flexible and fair mechanism for filing administrative lawsuits from anywhere in the Kingdom.
What papers and documents are required when filing a lawsuit?
To file a statutory lawsuit, make sure to attach:
- A copy of the administrative decision in dispute (if any).
- The national ID or commercial register.
- The documents supporting the lawsuit.
A detailed statement of claim explaining the requests and the reasons.
Can a lawsuit be filed electronically through the Board of Grievances portal?
Yes, the Board of Grievances’ electronic services allow the lawsuit to be filed and followed up entirely through the Muin platform, without the need to visit the court, which makes access to administrative justice easier.
What are the legal periods for filing administrative cases?
According to the Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances, the lawsuit must be filed within 60 days from the date of learning of the administrative decision. The period may vary depending on the type of case, so it is advisable to review the regulation or consult a specialized lawyer.
What are the steps for objecting to an administrative court judgment?
To learn how to file a statement of claim electronically through the “Najiz” portal of the Ministry of Justice, follow these steps:
- Log in to the beneficiary account on Najiz.
- Choose the “Statement of Claim” service.
- Fill in the required data, such as the claimant and defendant details and the subject of the dispute.
- Attach the documents.
- Submit the request electronically and wait for the hearing date to be set.
What is the difference between the Board of Grievances and the Ministry of Justice?
- The Board of Grievances: specialized in the administrative judiciary and cases involving government bodies.
- The Ministry of Justice: supervises the general, commercial, criminal and enforcement courts.
Each body has its own independent jurisdiction within the justice system in the Kingdom.
Can I appoint a lawyer to file the administrative lawsuit?
Yes, any individual or entity may appoint a licensed lawyer or a person under a Sharia power of attorney to represent them before the Board of Grievances, and follow all stages of the case, including filing the statement of claim and attending hearings electronically.
If the dispute is complicated or jurisdictions overlap, it is advisable to request a general legal consultation through the dedicated channels to better understand the appropriate judicial path and identify the competent court before submitting the statement of claim.
If you are not sure about the appropriate court, you can contact us via WhatsApp.
Some cases may raise confusion about the competent body, especially when judicial powers overlap. In this case, it is recommended to request a general legal consultation to determine the appropriate judicial path impartially.
Use the Administrative Courts Guide (Board of Grievances) as a starting point, then seek a general legal consultation to precisely identify the competent body and be directed to the appropriate administrative court lawyer.