Saudi Arabia's new Enforcement Law (1447H) takes effect 180 days after publication: start date, key changes and what replaced Article 46.
Short answer: The new Enforcement Law was issued by Royal Decree No. (M/237) dated 3/11/1447H and published in the Umm Al-Qura Gazette on 1 May 2026. It takes effect 180 days after publication and replaces the 1433H Enforcement Law. Key changes include reorganised compulsory enforcement steps, mandatory electronic registration of promissory notes and new penalties.
If you hold a judgment, a cheque or a promissory note, or you are the subject of an enforcement request, you will want to know what has changed, when, and what happened to the well-known Article 46. This guide sets out what the official text published by the Ministry of Justice says, and compares it with the 1433H law only where we have read the relevant article in both texts. For a review of your own position, see our financial claims and enforcement lawyers.
What is the new Enforcement Law and when was it issued?
The new law has seven chapters and 65 articles covering general provisions, jurisdiction, enforceable instruments, enforcement procedures, enforcement disputes and objections, penalties and final provisions. According to the royal decree published in Umm Al-Qura, it was issued by Royal Decree No. (M/237) dated 3/11/1447H, following Council of Ministers Resolution No. (746) dated 26/10/1447H, and published on 14/11/1447H (1 May 2026).
Article 65 of the new law states that it replaces the Enforcement Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/53) dated 13/8/1433H and its amendments, and repeals any conflicting provisions.
When does the new Enforcement Law apply?
Article 65(2) provides that the law takes effect 180 days after its publication in the Official Gazette. Until then, the 1433H law remains in force.
Article 64 requires the Minister to issue the implementing regulations within 180 days of the law's issuance, effective from the same date as the law. This matters because many articles leave the details to the regulations.
What is Article 46 in the new law, and what replaced the old Article 46?
Article 46 of the 1433H law dealt with a debtor who failed to pay or disclose sufficient assets within five days of notification. The judge would immediately order a travel ban, stop powers of attorney being issued by the debtor, order disclosure and attachment of assets, and notify credit bureaus. The judge could also bar government entities and financial institutions from dealing with the debtor. These are the measures commonly called "service suspension", which we explain in Service suspension in Saudi Arabia.
Article 46 of the new law covers something else entirely: grievances against orders and decisions on enforcement procedures. Any interested party may file a grievance with the court president, or whoever the Supreme Judicial Council designates, within ten working days. The decision may be suspended pending the outcome, and the ruling on the grievance is final.
Where did the old Article 46 measures go? Mainly to Articles 18 and 19:
Article 18: If five working days pass after notification without compliance, compulsory enforcement starts immediately. This means notifying credit bureaus and attaching the debtor's current and future assets, including amounts owed to them by public bodies. The court may also impose a daily fine of up to SAR 5,000, capped at a limit set by the regulations. A debtor who provides bank-issued security sufficient to cover the debt gets ten extra working days.
Article 19: A travel ban is now issued at the creditor's request, for up to three years, extendable to a maximum of six. It ends when the enforcement request ends and must be lifted in specified cases.
The text of Article 18 does not repeat the old measures on powers of attorney or on barring government entities and financial institutions from dealing with the debtor. However, Article 18(4) leaves it to the regulations to set the mechanisms the court may use.
What are the main changes compared with the 1433H law?
Topic 1433H law New law Deadline after notification "Five days" (Art. 46) "Five working days" (Art. 18) Travel ban Ordered immediately on default (Art. 46) At creditor's request, 3 years, extendable to 6 (Art. 19) Article 46 Default measures Grievances against enforcement decisions Commercial paper "Commercial papers" are enforceable (Art. 9) Cheques; bills and promissory notes only if registered on national electronic platforms (Art. 7) Hiding assets or refusing to comply Up to seven years' imprisonment (Art. 88) Up to three years and/or a fine up to SAR 1 million (Art. 50); up to 15 years for squandering large sums (Art. 52)
What does it mean if you are a creditor?
Promissory notes must be registered. Under Article 7, bills of exchange and promissory notes are enforceable only if registered on the national electronic platforms. Under item five of the royal decree, notes issued before the law takes effect that meet all other conditions remain enforceable for one year after it takes effect. See Enforcing a promissory note.
Ten-year limit: Article 11 bars enforcement requests based on an instrument more than ten years past its due date, subject to other applicable provisions.
Asset tracing: Where there are signs that assets are being hidden, the court may order tracing and questioning of the debtor, relatives, agents and financial counterparties (Articles 20–21).
Setting aside transactions: You may sue to set aside gifts, early repayments or unusual transactions made after notice (Article 24).
Your duties: You must close the request once paid (Article 42). Delaying closure to harm the debtor is an offence (Article 53).
Illustrative example: A company holds an unregistered SAR 200,000 promissory note issued before the new law. Under the decree it stays enforceable for one year after the law takes effect. If the company waits beyond that year, it may need another route, such as a substantive lawsuit.
What does it mean if you are a debtor?
You must disclose your assets from the date of notification (Article 15). Some assets cannot be attached (Article 26), including your home and vehicle within reasonable need, tools of your trade and government aid. Only half of a salary may be attached for maintenance debts and one third for other debts, and for pensions half and one quarter respectively. You may nominate which asset is enforced against first (Article 25), and the court may allow a voluntary sale (Article 29). You can file a grievance within ten working days (Article 46) or an enforcement dispute (Article 45). Neither suspends enforcement automatically (Article 47).
What survives from the 1433H law?
The royal decree keeps in force, for now, the 1433H provisions on provisional attachment (Chapter Two), until they move to the Law of Procedure before Sharia Courts. It also keeps the provisions on insolvency (Chapter Five, Part One) until a civil insolvency law is issued and takes effect.
What about enforcement requests filed before the start date?
The decree says that judgments, orders and decisions issued before the law takes effect remain valid. It also says the law does not apply to enforcement disputes already decided by final judgment. A pending file is worth reviewing with a lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the new law in force now?
It takes effect 180 days after its publication in the Official Gazette, under Article 65. Until then the 1433H law applies.
Has service suspension been abolished?
The new text does not restate the old measures, but it leaves the court's enforcement mechanisms to the regulations. Wait for the regulations before drawing conclusions.
What is Article 46 of the new law?
It governs grievances against enforcement orders and decisions, filed within ten working days. The ruling on the grievance is final.
Can a debtor be imprisoned?
Article 37 allows coercive detention in direct enforcement cases, meaning cases where the debtor must do or stop doing something. It applies after 30 working days of non-compliance, for up to 180 days with possible extension, and subject to stated exceptions. Separately, Article 50 makes hiding assets or deliberately obstructing enforcement a criminal offence punishable by up to three years in prison.
Have an enforcement request or a debt to recover?
Our licensed lawyers represent individuals and companies in enforcement requests and related disputes across all regions of Saudi Arabia, in person and remotely. If your claim needs a lawsuit before enforcement, see our litigation service.
Request a case review
Official sources: Enforcement Law 1447H — MOJ legal portal · Royal Decree M/237 — Umm Al-Qura · Enforcement Law 1433H — MOJ legal portal
Note: this article is general information about enforcement law in Saudi Arabia and is not legal advice for any specific case. The implementing regulations may add details that affect what is described here, so we recommend consulting a qualified lawyer before taking any action.
