How legal fees work in Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, a lawyer’s fee is agreed with the client in writing before the work starts. It may be a fixed fee, a fee per stage of a case, a fee for time spent, or a monthly retainer for ongoing advice. The fee depends mainly on the work involved, so ask for a written proposal.
Published by RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations · Last updated
General information about Saudi law — not advice on your situation.
At a glance
- Who this is for
- Companies and individuals hiring a lawyer in Saudi Arabia, including from abroad.
- Can it be handled from outside Saudi Arabia?
- Yes. Fee proposals and engagement letters are agreed in writing, wherever you are.
- What usually decides the route
- The scope of the work, how complex it is, and whether it runs in stages, such as a court case.
- What you usually need first
- A short outline of the matter, so the lawyer can work out what the work involves.
- First step with us
- Send a short outline. If we can help, we send a written proposal for the work and the fee.
- Working languages
- Arabic and English
Can you agree a lawyer’s fee from outside Saudi Arabia?
Yes, usually. The fee proposal and the engagement letter are written documents, so you can receive, discuss and sign them in your own country. You then pay the law firm directly, as the engagement letter says, not through a website.
An engagement letter is the written agreement between you and the law firm. If it is in Arabic, ask for a translation or a plain explanation of each term before you sign.
Agreeing the fee is only one step. For a lawyer to act for you in Saudi Arabia, you will usually also sign a power of attorney in your own country. This is a signed document that lets the lawyer act in your name. Power of attorney for Saudi Arabia, signed abroad explains that step. To see how we agree fees with clients abroad, read how we work with clients outside Saudi Arabia.
How do lawyers in Saudi Arabia charge?
Lawyers in Saudi Arabia charge under a written agreement with the client, usually using one of 4 common models: a fixed fee, a fee for each stage, a fee for the time spent, or a retainer. The agreement is signed before work starts. It sets out the work and the fee, or how the fee will be worked out. Which model fits depends mainly on the shape of the work.
- Fixed fee: one agreed price for a defined piece of work.
- Staged fee: a separate fee for each stage of a matter, such as each stage of a court case. All the stages are agreed at the start.
- Time-based fee: a fee for the time the lawyer spends, at a rate agreed in writing.
- Retainer: a regular fee, often monthly, for ongoing advice.
Some agreements combine two models. For example, a fixed fee may cover the first stage, and a time-based fee the work after it. The table of fee models below shows what each one usually suits.
What do Saudi rules say about agreeing a lawyer’s fee?
According to the Law of Legal Practice, published by the Ministry of Justice, a lawyer’s fee, and how it is paid, are set by agreement between the lawyer and the client. Saudi professional rules also require a written agreement before work starts.
That agreement names the parties and describes the work and its scope. Scope means what the lawyer will do, and what is not included. The agreement also sets the fee, or how the fee will be worked out.
Three official texts cover lawyers’ fees: the Law of Legal Practice, its Executive Regulations and the Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers. The Ministry of Justice publishes all three in Arabic on its legal portal. You will find them under Official sources below.
What does a lawyer’s fee in Saudi Arabia depend on?
A lawyer’s fee in Saudi Arabia depends mainly on the work. That means how much work there is, how complex it is, and how much time and skill it needs.
Other things that often shape the fee:
- the number of stages, such as a claim, an appeal and then enforcement (collecting what a court has ordered);
- whether documents need translation, or the work runs in more than one language;
- the kind of working relationship, such as one task or regular advice for a company over a longer period.
A defined task, such as reviewing one contract, is usually easier to price than a court case with several stages. So the clearer your outline of the matter, the closer the proposal can match it.
What costs are separate from a Saudi lawyer’s fee?
Some costs usually sit outside the lawyer’s fee, and the proposal should say which ones. Common examples are court or government fees, translation, certifying documents abroad and travel.
- Court and government fees. Some courts and government services charge their own fees. The authority concerned sets them, not the lawyer.
- Certified translation. Documents in other languages usually need a certified translation into Arabic, made by an accredited translation office.
- Certifying documents in your country. You pay the notary there, and for an apostille or legalisation. These are official stamps that let Saudi offices accept a document from abroad. Apostille or legalisation? Documents for Saudi Arabia by country shows which one your country uses.
- Travel. This applies only if someone has to attend in person.
Ask the law firm to list these costs in the proposal. Ask, too, who pays each one, and when.
Can someone else pay your legal fees in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Your company, an insurer or a law firm abroad can pay your Saudi lawyer’s fees. Saudi professional rules require your written consent first, before the lawyer accepts payment from anyone other than you.
Put the arrangement in the engagement letter. It should say who the client is, who pays, and who receives updates on the matter. If you are a lawyer or adviser instructing a Saudi lawyer for your own client, see working with foreign law firms, insurers and advisers.
How a lawyer’s fee is agreed in Saudi Arabia, step by step
Whichever law firm you choose, the fee is usually agreed in this order.
- Send a short outline. Say who you are, who the other party is, what happened and what you want done. No documents yet.
- Let the law firm check the matter. It checks that it does not already act for the other side, which is called a conflict check. It then works out the scope of the work.
- Read the written proposal. It should set out the work, the fee or how it is worked out, and what is not included.
- Ask questions and check the licence. Use the questions to ask before you hire a Saudi lawyer. Then check the lawyer’s licence before you sign.
- Sign the engagement letter. Check that it matches the proposal, including the fee and what it covers.
- Pay the law firm directly, as the letter says. Never pay through a website, or through a third party you have not agreed in writing.
- Agree any change in writing. If the work grows or changes, agree the new scope and fee in writing first.
Which fee model fits your matter in Saudi Arabia?
The fee model usually follows the shape of the work. A defined task suits a fixed fee, a court case often suits a staged fee, and ongoing advice suits a retainer.
| Fee model | How it works | Often used for | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed fee | One agreed price for defined work | A defined task, such as reviewing a contract or drafting a power of attorney | What exactly is included, and what would be charged on top? |
| Staged fee | A fee for each stage, agreed at the start | Court cases and enforcement, which move in stages | What are the stages, and what happens if the matter stops early? |
| Time-based fee | A fee for the time spent, at a rate agreed in writing | Advice where the amount of work is hard to predict | How is time recorded, and how often will you report it to me? |
| Retainer | A regular fee, often monthly, for ongoing advice | Companies that need regular legal support | What does the retainer cover, and what is charged separately? |
What to prepare before you ask for a fee proposal
A clear outline helps a lawyer understand the work and put a fee on it. Have these ready:
- a short outline of the matter: who you are, the other party and what happened;
- what you want the lawyer to do, and any date you already know matters;
- who will pay the fee. If it is not you, the lawyer will need your written consent;
- any budget limit, so the proposal can be shaped around it;
- the language you want for the proposal and the engagement letter.
Keep your documents ready, but don’t send them until the law firm has agreed to act for you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer cost in Saudi Arabia?
There is no standard price. The cost follows what the work involves, and the lawyer sets it out in a written proposal once they understand the matter. This website does not publish prices, because each matter is different.
Can you pay a Saudi law firm from abroad?
Yes. Payment is arranged directly with the law firm, as the engagement letter says. It is never made through this website.
Is a first consultation with a Saudi lawyer charged?
Some lawyers charge for a first consultation and some do not. Ask before the call, and ask what the consultation will cover.
Can a Saudi lawyer’s fee change after you sign?
Only as the engagement letter allows. If the work grows or changes, agree the new scope and fee in writing before the extra work starts.
Are court or government fees included in a Saudi lawyer’s fee?
Usually not. Court and government fees are set by the authority concerned, not by the lawyer. A government fee may apply; the official page has the details. The proposal should say which costs are separate and who pays them.
Official sources
This page draws on 3 official sources. Each line shows who publishes it, its language and, where recorded, the date we last checked it.
- Ministry of Justice · Law of Legal Practice (in Arabic) · checked
- Ministry of Justice · Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers (in Arabic) · checked
- Ministry of Justice · Executive Regulations of the Law of Legal Practice (in Arabic) · checked
What usually comes next
General information about Saudi law, not advice on your situation. Contacting us does not create a lawyer–client relationship until an engagement letter is signed.