How to write a statement of claim in Saudi Arabia: the mandatory data under the Law of Procedure, facts, requests and grounds, plus a general template.
Short answer: A statement of claim (صحيفة الدعوى) is the document that opens a lawsuit before a Saudi court. Under Article 41 of the Law of Procedure before Sharia Courts, it must identify the claimant, the defendant, the court and the filing date, then set out the facts, the precise requests and the grounds supporting them. It is filed electronically through the Najiz platform.
What is a statement of claim, and why does it matter so much?
The statement of claim is the first thing the judge reads about your dispute. It defines who the parties are, what you are asking for and why you are entitled to it. A vague or incomplete statement can lead to requests for clarification and delays, or to an important request being left out entirely.
The first draft matters for another reason: Article 186 of the Law of Procedure before Sharia Courts provides that new requests are not accepted on appeal. In practice, anything you did not ask for at first instance may be impossible to add later.
That is why many individuals and companies ask a litigation and commercial disputes lawyer to review the statement before it is filed, especially in money claims and commercial disputes with many documents and figures.
What data must a statement of claim include?
Article 41 of the Law of Procedure before Sharia Courts requires the claim to be filed by a statement signed by the claimant or their representative, containing:
Claimant details: full name, ID number, occupation, place of residence and place of work.
Defendant details: full name and whatever is known about their occupation.
Filing date.
The court before which the claim is brought.
An address for service chosen by the claimant in the city where the court sits.
The subject of the claim, the claimant's requests, and the grounds.
Under Article 42, the claim is registered on the day the statement is filed and the hearing date is recorded. Today most of this happens electronically through Najiz, which asks you to complete these items in dedicated fields.
How do you write a statement of claim, step by step?
1. Identify the competent court first
Is the dispute commercial, labour, family or general civil? Each has its own court, and some courts (commercial and labour) have their own laws and pre-filing requirements. Filing in the wrong court costs time, because the court can rule on lack of jurisdiction on its own motion.
2. Write the facts in neutral chronological order
Number your paragraphs. State dates and amounts exactly as they appear in your documents. Avoid emotional language unless you can prove it and it matters to a request.
3. Make each request precise and enforceable
Instead of "I want my rights", write: "Order the defendant to pay the claimant SAR [X]." Put each request (principal, compensation, termination, delivery) in its own numbered item.
4. Tie every request to a ground
Grounds are the contract clause, the statutory provision, the written acknowledgment, the invoice or the correspondence that supports each request.
5. Number and cross-reference your exhibits
Label documents (Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2…) and cite the number in the facts.
Facts, requests and grounds: what is the difference?
ElementQuestion it answersShort exampleFactsWhat happened?"The claimant delivered the goods on [date]."RequestsWhat do you want the court to order?"Order the defendant to pay the invoice value."GroundsWhy are you entitled to it?"Contract dated [..], clause [..]; delivery note."
Illustrative example: itemising a money claim
Illustrative only (hypothetical figures): a supplier delivers goods worth SAR 85,000; the buyer pays SAR 25,000 and stops. The amount claimed = 85,000 − 25,000 = SAR 60,000. The facts state the total, delivery date and part-payment; the request asks for SAR 60,000; the grounds list the purchase order, delivery note, statement of account and payment receipt. The judge can then verify the calculation directly.
A general statement-of-claim template
Note: this is a general model for guidance only. Adapt it to the type of claim, the competent court and the current Najiz fields. Replace everything in [brackets].
To: The President of [competent court], [city]
Claimant: [full name], ID/CR no. [..], occupation [..], residence [..], workplace [..], chosen address in the court's city [..]
Defendant: [full name], occupation/activity [as known], address [..]
Filing date: [..]
Subject: [e.g., claim for the balance of a supply contract]
Facts: numbered paragraphs with dates and exhibit references
Grounds: contract clauses, exhibits, relevant provisions
Requests: "Order the defendant to pay the claimant SAR [..]"; any other precise request
Exhibits: numbered list
Submitted by: [name and signature, or attorney details and power-of-attorney number]
How do you file it through Najiz?
The Ministry of Justice offers a statement of claim e-service on Najiz. In general, you log in through the National Single Sign-On (Nafath), choose the claim type, enter the parties' details, complete the facts, requests and grounds, upload your documents and submit. Screens may change, so check the official service description first. Tip: draft the full text in a separate document, review it, then paste it into the fields.
Common mistakes
Vague requests with no amount or basis for calculation.
Opinions instead of dated, documented facts.
Forgetting a request, then trying to add it on appeal.
Suing the wrong party (e.g., a manager personally instead of the company).
Attaching documents without referring to them.
Filing before the wrong court.
If a judgment does not meet your requests, see how to appeal judgments in Saudi Arabia (upcoming link). If you hold a promissory note, you may not need a lawsuit at all: see promissory note enforcement (upcoming link).
FAQ
Can I write the statement of claim myself?
Yes, a claimant can file directly on Najiz. For larger amounts or document-heavy disputes, a lawyer's review helps avoid missing requests or filing against the wrong party or court.
Is "statement of claim" the same as "لائحة دعوى"?
In everyday use the two terms are close. The term used in the Law of Procedure is "صحيفة الدعوى".
Can I change my requests after filing?
Amendments or incidental requests may be allowed at first instance within the law's limits, but new requests are not accepted on appeal. Include everything from the start.
How can I view a claim filed against me?
You are normally notified on your registered contact details, and you can view the case in your Najiz account after logging in through Nafath.
Need your statement of claim reviewed?
Our litigation team drafts and reviews statements of claim for individuals and companies across Saudi Arabia, in person or remotely.
Request a case assessment
This article is general information for awareness only and is not legal advice for any specific case. Requirements vary by claim type, court and regulatory updates; consult a licensed lawyer before taking action.
