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The right to appeal a judicial ruling is a fundamental legal safeguard in the Saudi judicial system. If you have received a preliminary judgment, you may be entitled to have the case reviewed by a higher court. This article outlines who can appeal, the legal requirements, and the process.

1. What Does It Mean to Appeal a Judgment?

An appeal is a legal process allowing the affected party to request a review of the ruling by the Court of Appeal, to ensure the decision complies with applicable law and justice.

2. Who Can File an Appeal?

• Anyone against whom a non-final ruling was issued.
• Any party materially affected by the judgment.
• Even if a party remained silent during hearings, they still retain the right to appeal.

3. What Is the Legal Timeframe to File an Appeal?

• 30 days from receiving the judgment copy.
• In urgent cases: 10 days only (see urgent lawsuits).
• Missing the deadline results in losing the right to appeal.

4. What Are the Legal Conditions for Accepting an Appeal?

• The judgment must not be final.
• The appeal must be submitted within the statutory timeframe.
• The appeal memorandum must clearly state legal grounds, such as:
  • Error in applying the law or regulations.
  • Ignoring key evidence or defenses.
  • Inadequate or missing legal reasoning.

5. When Is an Appeal Not Accepted?

• If both parties attended the hearing and the appeal was not filed within the deadline.
• If the judgment was issued by the Court of Appeal (final).
• If no legal arguments are presented in the appeal memo.

6. How to Submit an Appeal?

1. Visit the Najiz platform.
2. Select “Request to Appeal a Judgment”.
3. Fill out the form and provide the case number.
4. Clearly list the legal reasons for the appeal.
5. Attach supporting documents, if available.
6. Submit electronically and await referral to the Court of Appeal.

7. What Happens After Submitting the Appeal?

• The Court of Appeal reviews the case.
• No hearings are usually required unless necessary.
• The court may:
  • Uphold the original judgment.
  • Amend it partially.
  • Overturn it and order a retrial.
• The decision is issued within days or a few weeks.

Important Notes:

• It is highly recommended to consult a lawyer when preparing the appeal memo.
• The process is fully digital and can be completed online.
• Some personal status cases are appealable even if the initial ruling is minor.

Legal Summary:

Appealing a ruling is a vital right to protect justice. Act promptly within the legal timeframe and ensure your arguments are clear and legally sound.

For more legal references, visit:
Ministry of Justice – Regulations
Saudi Civil Procedures Law
Legal Litigation Services – Fahad Alabdulqader Law Firm