S. Arabia Unveils Balanced Enforcement Law to Protect Creditors and Debtors

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani has said the Kingdom’s new enforcement system, approved by the Cabinet in April, is founded on a balanced legal framework aimed at safeguarding creditors’ rights while protecting the basic rights of debtors and their families.

In an interview with local media, Al-Samaani said the reformed system was designed to secure legal rights rather than punish individuals. He stressed that the purpose of enforcement is not to cause harm, but to ensure justice is carried out effectively.

“Rights are not fully protected merely through the issuance of a judgment or legal instrument,” the minister said. “What truly guarantees those rights is efficient and dependable enforcement, which in turn strengthens the business climate and builds trust in financial and commercial dealings.”

Al-Samaani revealed that Saudi Arabia recorded 1.6 million enforcement requests in 2025, with a total value of SR165 billion ($43.9 billion), underlining the growing scale and significance of the enforcement sector.

He described the enforcement of contracts and judicial rulings as a cornerstone of investment confidence and economic stability, adding that clear, swift and effective procedures are vital to strengthening the reliability of both the judicial and commercial environment.

Saudi Arabia’s judicial system has undergone sweeping reforms since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030 in 2016, as the Kingdom continues to modernise its legal and institutional framework in line with economic and social transformation.

Al-Samaani, who has served as justice minister since the early formation of the Council of Ministers under Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has overseen many of these changes.

One of the most significant reforms is the new enforcement law, which introduces major amendments, including the abolition of imprisonment for debtors unable to repay, alongside revised measures governing service suspensions and travel bans.

On the commercial justice front, the minister said Saudi commercial courts have handled around 500,000 cases since their establishment. In 2025 alone, the courts issued more than 97,600 judgments — a 32 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

Al-Samaani also highlighted the rapid digital transformation of the Kingdom’s judicial sector, pointing to advances in service quality and the growing role of artificial intelligence in supporting and modernising the justice system.

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