The Board of Grievances (Diwan Al-Mazalim) is Saudi Arabia's supreme administrative court. It has exclusive jurisdiction over disputes between private parties — individuals or businesses — and government authorities. Whether a ministry has refused your licence, cancelled a government contract, imposed an unlawful penalty, or taken an administrative decision that harms your business, the Board of Grievances is the proper forum for challenge.
What Cases Does the Board of Grievances Handle?
The Board of Grievances has jurisdiction over: administrative decisions by government ministries and agencies (licence refusals, cancellations, and suspensions); government contract disputes where a public authority is a party; disciplinary decisions against civil servants; disputes with regulatory bodies such as SAMA, CMA, ZATCA, and the Communications Authority; customs and tax disputes; and claims for compensation against government entities for unlawful actions.
The Structure of the Court
The Board of Grievances comprises three levels: the Administrative Courts (primary courts of first instance in each region), the Administrative Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Administrative Court. The Supreme Administrative Court is the final court for administrative matters and also has jurisdiction over certain high-value government contract disputes.
Critical Deadlines You Must Know
Administrative law cases in Saudi Arabia are subject to strict and short limitation periods. The general rule is that a challenge to an administrative decision must be filed within 60 days of the date you were notified of the decision, or from the date you became aware of it. For some decisions — particularly those issued by certain regulatory bodies — the deadline may be even shorter. Missing the deadline generally means your right to challenge the decision is permanently lost, regardless of how strong your case would have been.
How to File a Case
Cases before the Administrative Courts are filed electronically through the Najiz platform (the Ministry of Justice's digital court system). Your case submission must include: the challenged decision (or description of the government's action), the legal grounds for the challenge, supporting documentary evidence, and the specific relief sought (annulment, compensation, reinstatement, injunction). A formal legal opinion drafted by an experienced administrative lawyer significantly improves the structure and persuasiveness of the submission.
What Remedies Can You Obtain?
The Administrative Courts can: annul an unlawful administrative decision; order compensation for financial loss caused by the government's unlawful action; issue injunctions to suspend the implementation of a decision while the case is pending; and order reinstatement in cases involving civil servants. In government contract disputes, the court can award damages and order performance of contractual obligations.