Hire a lawyer in Saudi Arabia
Representation for individuals and companies before the Board of Grievances, the commercial, general and personal status courts, enforcement courts, courts of appeal and specialized committees.
Practice areas and courtsBased in Riyadh, acting before courts and committees across Saudi Arabia
Abdulaziz Jaber Aljohani Law FirmLawyers and legal consultants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Over 20 years of judicial experience within the Saudi judiciary, serving foreign investors, companies and individuals. We set up companies, handle matters with government authorities, and represent clients before Saudi courts, committees and arbitral tribunals through to judgment and enforcement.
Courts and committees
- Board of Grievances
- Commercial Courts
- General Courts
- Personal Status Courts
- Enforcement Courts
- Courts of Appeal
- Banking and finance committees
- Securities dispute committees
- Zakat, tax and customs committees
- Arbitral tribunals
How we help foreign clients in Saudi Arabia
Abdulaziz Jaber Aljohani Law Firm is a Saudi law firm based in Riyadh. Whether you need a lawyer, want to set up a company, have a matter with a government authority or are planning an investment, start with the route that matches your need.
Set up a company in Saudi Arabia
Investor registration with the Ministry of Investment (MISA), choosing the legal form, drafting the articles of association and registering the company with the Ministry of Commerce.
Company formation serviceDeal with government authorities
Challenging administrative decisions, resolving government contract disputes before the Board of Grievances, and objecting to tax, customs and regulatory decisions before the competent committees.
Government disputesUnderstand investing in Saudi Arabia
Clear answers on the Investment Law, foreign ownership, company forms, commercial registration and how disputes are resolved.
Investment FAQMinistry of Investment (MISA) and Ministry of Commerce
Company formation and foreign investment in Saudi Arabia
A dedicated service for foreign investors entering the Saudi market and anyone forming a new entity. Under the new Investment Law, registration with the Ministry of Investment has replaced the investment license; the legal form and constitutional documents you choose still determine the entity's cost and flexibility for years.
- Foreign investor registration with the Ministry of Investment (MISA) and post-registration compliance.
- Forming simplified joint stock companies, limited liability companies and joint stock companies, and registering them in the Commercial Register.
- Drafting articles of association, shareholder and partner agreements, and share classes.
- Trade name registration and protection, and internal governance arrangements.
Legal references
- Investment Law, Royal Decree No. M/19 dated 16/1/1446H, and its Implementing Regulations.
- Companies Law, Royal Decree No. M/132 dated 1/12/1443H, including the simplified joint stock company.
- Commercial Register Law and Trade Names Law, Royal Decree No. M/83 dated 19/3/1446H.
Formation path
- Review the activityIdentify the activity and any sector restrictions, and choose the right legal form.
- Register the investorRegister with the Ministry of Investment where there is a foreign partner or shareholder.
- Documents and registrationDraft the articles of association and register the company and its trade name in the Commercial Register.
- GovernancePrepare shareholder agreements, governance rules and delegations of authority.
- After incorporationOngoing compliance for amendments, capital increases and ownership transfers.
Practice areas
Six litigation and advisory practices, each tied to a competent court or committee and its governing laws. Every matter starts by characterizing the dispute and confirming jurisdiction, because filing in the wrong forum costs time and can miss statutory deadlines.
Administrative Courts of the Board of Grievances
Board of Grievances and government disputes
When a government body is party to the dispute: a decision it issued, a contract it signed, or an act that caused harm.
- Actions to annul final administrative decisions, observing the grievance requirement and its statutory deadlines.
- Government project contract disputes: penalties, extensions, variations, payment certificates and contract withdrawal.
- Compensation claims arising from administrative decisions and acts.
Legal references
- Law of the Board of Grievances, Royal Decree No. M/78 dated 19/9/1428H, Article 13.
- Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances, Royal Decree No. M/3 dated 22/1/1435H.
- Government Tenders and Procurement Law, Royal Decree No. M/128 dated 13/11/1440H; the new law issued by Royal Decree No. M/76 dated 27/2/1448H takes effect 120 days after its publication.
Commercial Courts
Commercial Courts and company disputes
Disputes between merchants and companies, from partner conflicts to management liability and financial restructuring.
- Commercial disputes and contract claims between merchants.
- Partner and shareholder disputes, and liability claims against managers and board members.
- Bankruptcy procedures, particularly protective settlement and financial reorganization.
Legal references
- Commercial Courts Law, Royal Decree No. M/93 dated 15/8/1441H.
- Companies Law, Royal Decree No. M/132 dated 1/12/1443H.
- Bankruptcy Law, Royal Decree No. M/50 dated 28/5/1439H.
SAMA, CMA and Zakat, Tax and Customs committees
Judicial and quasi-judicial committees
Disputes the law assigns to specialized committees rather than courts, each with its own procedures and deadlines.
- Banking and finance disputes before the committees of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).
- Securities disputes before the Committee for the Resolution of Securities Disputes and its Appeal Committee.
- Objections to decisions of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) and representation before the Zakat, Tax and Customs committees.
Legal references
- Banking Control Law, Royal Decree No. M/5 dated 22/2/1386H.
- Finance Companies Control Law, Royal Decree No. M/51 dated 13/8/1433H.
- Capital Market Law, Royal Decree No. M/30 dated 2/6/1424H.
- Working Rules of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Committees, Royal Order No. 25711 of 1445H.
- GCC Common Customs Law, Royal Decree No. M/41 dated 3/11/1423H.
Arbitral tribunals, Courts of Appeal and Enforcement Courts
Arbitration and ADR
Resolving disputes through procedures the parties choose, without the award losing its enforceability.
- Drafting arbitration clauses and submission agreements, including the rules, seat and language.
- Representing parties in constituting the tribunal and conducting the proceedings through to the award.
- Annulment actions and applications for enforcement orders, including for foreign awards.
- Settlement and mediation, before or alongside litigation.
Legal references
- Arbitration Law, Royal Decree No. M/34 dated 24/5/1433H, as amended.
- Enforcement Law, Royal Decree No. M/53 dated 13/8/1433H; the new Enforcement Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/237 dated 3/11/1447H takes effect 180 days after its publication.
- New York Convention of 1958, on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, to which Saudi Arabia is a party.
General Courts
General Courts and real estate disputes
Real estate and civil contracts, where ownership, possession and compensation are decided.
- Ownership, possession, trespass and eviction claims concerning real estate.
- Construction contract disputes and compensation claims under the Civil Transactions Law.
- Matters related to real estate registration and protecting rights recorded in the real estate register.
Legal references
- Civil Transactions Law, Royal Decree No. M/191 dated 29/11/1444H.
- Law of Procedure before Sharia Courts, Royal Decree No. M/1 dated 22/1/1435H, Article 31.
- Real Estate Registration Law, Royal Decree No. M/91 dated 19/9/1443H.
- Law of Evidence, Royal Decree No. M/43 dated 26/5/1443H.
Personal Status Courts
Inheritance and estate division
Estates holding real estate, shares and operating companies, which need a precise inventory and a division that keeps the business running.
- Determining heirs and the estate, and settling rights and debts before division.
- Amicable division and its documentation, and court-ordered division in contested cases.
- Protecting the shares of minors and absent heirs, and matters of endowments and wills.
- Family business continuity: transfer of shares, family charters and shareholder agreements.
Legal references
- Personal Status Law, Royal Decree No. M/73 dated 6/8/1443H.
- Law of Procedure before Sharia Courts, Article 33: jurisdiction of the Personal Status Courts over inheritance and estate division, including real estate.
- Companies Law, provisions on shareholder agreements and family charters.
Founder and approach
Founding lawyer
Abdulaziz bin Jaber Aljohani
Over 20 years of judicial experience
Firm at a glance
- Firm
- Abdulaziz Jaber Aljohani Law Firm & Legal Consultancy
- Arabic name
- مكتب عبدالعزيز جابر الجهني للمحاماة والاستشارات القانونية
- Based in
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Coverage
- Courts and committees across Saudi Arabia
- Phone and WhatsApp
- +966 55 440 7109
- info@ajlawyer.click
- Languages
- Arabic and English
- Website
- ajlawyer.click
Abdulaziz bin Jaber Aljohani leads the firm, drawing on more than 20 years of judicial experience within the Saudi judiciary. That background shapes how the firm works: reading each dispute through a judicial lens, settling its legal characterization before any procedural step, and grounding every claim and defense in a provision that can be relied on before the deciding body.
How each matter is handled
- Review the facts and documentsSeparate the facts that decide the case from those that do not.
- Characterize and confirm jurisdictionSettle subject-matter and territorial jurisdiction before any step, and track statutory deadlines.
- Choose the routeSettlement, arbitration or litigation, whichever protects the right at the lowest cost and time.
- Litigate through to enforcementFollow the matter beyond judgment until the right is recovered.
Questions foreign investors and companies ask
Short general answers. Every case has its own facts, which can change the outcome.
Can a foreigner hire a Saudi lawyer to represent them?
Yes. Individuals and companies, whether Saudi or foreign, can be represented before Saudi courts and committees by a licensed Saudi lawyer acting under a power of attorney. When the client is outside the Kingdom, the power of attorney must meet Saudi authentication requirements.
Do foreign investors still need a MISA investment license?
No. Under the Investment Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/19 dated 16/1/1446H, which came into force in 2025, foreign investors register with the Ministry of Investment (MISA) instead of obtaining an investment license, and existing licenses were converted into registrations.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Saudi Arabia?
In principle, yes. The Investment Law guarantees equal treatment of foreign and local investors, and full foreign ownership is possible across many activities. Activities on the list of excluded activities require prior approval from the Ministry of Investment, and some regulated sectors impose their own licensing conditions, so the activity should be checked before incorporation.
What is a simplified joint stock company (SJSC)?
A company form introduced by the Companies Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/132 dated 1/12/1443H. It can be formed by one or more persons, has no minimum capital requirement, and its bylaws allow wide flexibility in management and share classes, which suits startups and investment rounds.
Which court hears disputes with Saudi government entities?
The Administrative Courts of the Board of Grievances. Article 13 of the Law of the Board of Grievances, issued by Royal Decree No. M/78 dated 19/9/1428H, gives them jurisdiction over actions to annul administrative decisions, compensation claims against government bodies, and disputes over contracts to which a government body is a party.
Can a foreign arbitral award be enforced in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi Arabia is a party to the 1958 New York Convention, and foreign awards are enforced through the Enforcement Courts. The court checks reciprocity, proper notice and representation of the parties, that the award is final, and that it does not conflict with Saudi public order.
How are tax and customs disputes resolved in Saudi Arabia?
Objections are first filed with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA). If an objection is rejected, the dispute can be taken to the Zakat, Tax and Customs committees, which sit at first instance and on appeal under the General Secretariat of Zakat, Tax and Customs Committees.
What changed in Saudi commercial registration in 2025?
The Commercial Register Law and the Trade Names Law, issued by Royal Decree No. M/83 dated 19/3/1446H, came into force in 2025. Each trader now holds a single commercial registration, and holders of branch registrations have a five-year grace period to regularize them.
Contact the firm
One number for calls and WhatsApp. Based in Riyadh, representing clients before courts and committees across Saudi Arabia.
To assess your matter quickly, include in your first message:
- The type of dispute or service you need.
- The court or authority handling it, if any.
- Any upcoming deadline: a hearing, an objection period or a grievance.
Phone and WhatsApp
+966 55 440 7109Within Saudi Arabia: 055 440 7109
- info@ajlawyer.click
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia