# Saudi Arabia’s new Enforcement Law: what changes for creditors

From 28 October 2026, Saudi Arabia's new Enforcement Law puts more weight on a debtor's assets and makes travel bans a later step. It also changes how promissory notes (written promises to pay) are enforced. If you are owed money there, check which documents can still be enforced directly. The official text and its implementing regulations decide the details.

Published by RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations · Last updated 2026-10-19. General information about Saudi law — not advice on your situation.

## At a glance

- **Who this is for:** Credit managers, in-house lawyers, foreign law firms and any company owed money by a party in Saudi Arabia.
- **Can it be handled from outside Saudi Arabia?:** Yes. Through a Saudi lawyer acting under a power of attorney that you sign in your own country.
- **What usually decides the route:** The documents you hold, and whether your promissory notes are on Nafith, the national platform for promissory notes.
- **What you usually need first:** A list, not copies, of your unpaid invoices, promissory notes, cheques and open enforcement files.
- **First step with us:** Tell us who owes you money and what you hold, by WhatsApp, a call or email. Please don't send any documents yet.


## Can you use the new Enforcement Law from outside Saudi Arabia?

Yes, usually. A Saudi lawyer can act for you under a power of attorney that you sign in your own country. You do not need to travel to Saudi Arabia to start.

Enforcement goes through the [Enforcement Court](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/enforcement-court/), the court that enforces judgments and other enforceable documents, such as a cheque. A creditor's request there becomes an enforcement file. The Ministry of Justice handles these files on [Najiz](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/najiz/), its online platform for cases, enforcement and powers of attorney. To sign in, Najiz uses Nafath, the Saudi government's login app. Nafath needs a Saudi digital identity, which is linked to an ID issued in Saudi Arabia. So a creditor abroad usually acts through a lawyer who holds their power of attorney.

You sign the [power of attorney](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/power-of-attorney/) in front of a notary in your country. It then needs official stamps: an apostille or legalisation, depending on where you sign. [Documents from abroad](https://saudilaw.co/documents-from-abroad/) shows which one your country uses. Saudi courts run most hearings electronically, and court work in Saudi Arabia is done in Arabic.

## What is Saudi Arabia's new Enforcement Law?

It is the law that sets out how debts and court decisions are enforced in Saudi Arabia. Enforcing a debt means making a person or company pay what they owe. As published in Umm Al-Qura, the Official Gazette, the new law replaces the earlier Enforcement Law and applies from 28 October 2026.

The law covers enforcement instruments. These are documents the Enforcement Court can act on without a new lawsuit, such as a court judgment, an arbitration award or a cheque. A debt without one, such as an unpaid invoice, usually needs a court claim first. [Recovering money owed in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/debt-recovery/) shows how the routes fit together.

Saudi laws are published in Umm Al-Qura, the Official Gazette, and on the Ministry of Justice legal portal. Both are in Arabic and both are linked under Official sources. If a translation of a Saudi law differs from the official Arabic text, the Arabic text is the one that applies.

## What changes for creditors from 28 October 2026?

From 28 October 2026, the new law changes 6 things that matter to creditors. It puts more weight on a debtor's assets and gives the court new ways to find them. Promissory notes need to be on Nafith to be enforced directly. A travel ban becomes a later step, used within limits. Licensed private providers take on some enforcement tasks. Foreign judgments are still assessed on reciprocity.

**Main changes for creditors, in plain words**

| Topic | Before 28 October 2026 | From 28 October 2026 | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| The debtor's assets | The court could act against a debtor's assets and against the debtor personally. | The new law puts more weight on finding and reaching the debtor's assets. | Plan recovery around what the debtor owns and where it is. |
| Finding out what a debtor owns | The court could already look for a debtor's assets. | The new law gives the court new ways to find out what a debtor owns. | Tell your lawyer what you know about the debtor's business, bank accounts and property. |
| Promissory notes | A signed paper note could go straight to enforcement. | Promissory notes need to be on Nafith to be enforced directly. Older paper notes have a limited transition period. | Check your paper notes against the official text. |
| Travel bans | A travel ban could be used in an enforcement file. | A travel ban is a later step, used within limits. | Do not build a recovery plan around a travel ban. |
| Private enforcement providers | Enforcement tasks were mostly handled through the court. | The new law introduces licensed private providers for some enforcement tasks. | How they work depends on the implementing regulations. |
| Foreign judgments | Foreign judgments were assessed on reciprocity, meaning whether that country's courts enforce Saudi judgments. | Foreign judgments are still assessed on reciprocity. | Check your judgment before you plan enforcement. |

This is a summary, not the law itself. The official text, linked under Official sources, sets out the rules.

## What still depends on the implementing regulations?

Some practical details depend on the implementing regulations, the detailed rules issued under the law. Examples are how licensed private providers work and some platform procedures.

The official Arabic sources linked below set out the applicable rules. A lawyer can check each document against them. Our [log of what's changed](https://saudilaw.co/whats-changed/) records the change of law and its date.

## What happens to promissory notes under the new Enforcement Law?

Promissory notes need to be on Nafith, the national electronic platform for promissory notes, to be enforced directly. Older paper notes are covered by a limited transition period, and the official text sets it out.

A [promissory note](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/promissory-note/) is a signed, written promise to pay money to someone. The official text also sets out how cheques are treated. Our page on [promissory notes, cheques and the Nafith platform](https://saudilaw.co/debt-recovery/promissory-notes-and-cheques/) explains what to check.

## Does the new Enforcement Law change travel bans for debts?

Yes. The new Enforcement Law changes when a travel ban can be used in an enforcement file. It is a later step, used within limits.

A [travel ban](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/travel-ban/) is an order that stops a person from leaving Saudi Arabia. For creditors, this means planning recovery around the debtor's assets, not around a ban. Our page on [how travel bans end in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/cases-arrests-travel-bans/how-travel-bans-end/) explains the change for people facing a ban.

## How to check where you stand under the new Enforcement Law

1. **List what you are owed.** Write down your unpaid invoices, promissory notes, cheques and any open enforcement files. A list is enough for now.
2. **Mark which documents are enforcement instruments.** These can go to the Enforcement Court without a new lawsuit. [Enforcement instruments explained](https://saudilaw.co/guides/enforcement-instruments-explained/) shows which documents count. For a debt without one, see [recovering an unpaid invoice from a Saudi company](https://saudilaw.co/debt-recovery/unpaid-invoices/). *Where a lawyer helps:* checking each document against the new law.
3. **Check your paper promissory notes.** Compare each one with the limited transition period set out in the official text. *Where a lawyer helps:* telling you which notes need action.
4. **Ask for new notes on Nafith where needed.** If a paper note may no longer be enforced directly, ask the customer to issue a new note on Nafith.
5. **Update your credit terms and templates.** Check that new contracts, order forms and payment terms ask for documents that work under the new law.
6. **Watch the official sources.** The implementing regulations may change practical details. They appear in Umm Al-Qura and on the Ministry of Justice legal portal.
7. **Talk to a lawyer about open files.** The official text sets out how the new law applies to files opened before 28 October 2026. *Where a lawyer helps:* checking each open file and explaining what the change means for it.

Contact: WhatsApp or phone +966 54 797 7285 · email office@raedlawyer.com · undefined

## What to prepare

Have this information ready when you contact us. A list is enough:

- who owes you money, and whether each debtor is a company or a person;
- the documents behind each debt, such as invoices, a contract, promissory notes, cheques or a judgment;
- for each promissory note, whether it is on paper or on Nafith, and when it was signed;
- any enforcement file already open, and its stage, if you know it;
- who in your company can sign a power of attorney, if we agree to act.

Work starts only after an engagement letter, the written agreement between you and the firm, is signed. Fees are agreed in writing before any work starts. Our page on [how legal fees work in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/how-legal-fees-work/) explains how fees are usually agreed. Payment is arranged directly with the firm, never on this site. Please don't send copies of any documents until we agree to act.


## Frequently asked questions

### When does the new Saudi Enforcement Law take effect?

The new Enforcement Law takes effect on 28 October 2026. It sets the rules for making debtors pay, and it puts more weight on finding and reaching the debtor's assets. The official Arabic text is linked under Official sources. If you hold an older document or an open file, have a licensed lawyer review it before you act.

### Does the new Enforcement Law apply to debts from before 28 October 2026?

Check each document and file against the official text, because the exact wording matters. The new law changes how some documents are enforced, including promissory notes and the role of Nafith, the national electronic platform for promissory notes. We don't summarise these rules here. We check each of your documents and open files against the official text, then tell you what to do next.

### Can you still get a travel ban for unpaid debt in Saudi Arabia?

Plan around the debtor's assets first. The new Enforcement Law, which takes effect on 28 October 2026, puts more weight on finding and reaching those assets. A travel ban is an order that stops a person leaving Saudi Arabia, and whether one fits a given file is a question for a licensed lawyer. If you are the one facing a ban, get advice early. See [how travel bans end in Saudi Arabia](/cases-arrests-travel-bans/how-travel-bans-end/).

### Does the new Enforcement Law change how foreign judgments are enforced in Saudi Arabia?

The Enforcement Court still reviews a foreign judgment first, and it still looks at reciprocity, meaning whether courts in that country enforce Saudi judgments. We check how this applies to your judgment before you pay for stamps or translations. See [enforcing a foreign court judgment in Saudi Arabia](/debt-recovery/foreign-judgments/).

### Where can I read the new Saudi Enforcement Law, and is there an English version?

The official text is in Arabic, and it is linked under Official sources. If a translation of a Saudi law differs from the official Arabic text, the Arabic text is the one that applies, so treat any English version as a guide only. If a decision turns on the wording, have a Saudi lawyer read the Arabic text with you.

## Official sources

- Ministry of Justice: [Ministry of Justice legal portal](https://laws.moj.gov.sa/)
- Umm Al-Qura (Official Gazette): [Umm Al-Qura, the official gazette](https://uqn.gov.sa/)
- Ministry of Justice: [Najiz (Ministry of Justice e-services)](https://najiz.sa/applications/landing) (checked 2026-10-19)

General information about Saudi law, not legal advice on your situation. For your own case, speak to a licensed lawyer. Contacting us does not create a lawyer–client relationship until an engagement letter is signed.

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Saudi Law is operated by RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations, licensed in Saudi Arabia. https://saudilaw.co/debt-recovery/new-enforcement-law/