# Finding and checking a lawyer in Saudi Arabia

To find a lawyer you can trust in Saudi Arabia, start with the licence. The Saudi Bar Association's public directory shows a lawyer's licence number, status and expiry date, and you can search it without a Saudi login. Then ask who will handle your matter, in which language, and how the fee will be agreed in writing.

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.



## Which of these is closest to your situation?

Pick the group below that sounds most like your matter. Each page explains how that kind of matter usually works in Saudi Arabia, whichever lawyer you choose.

Saudi Arabia has a licensed legal profession, and anyone can check a lawyer's licence online.

### Companies and investors

- [Setting up a company in Saudi Arabia as a foreign business](https://saudilaw.co/company-formation/) — You want a branch, a Saudi company or a regional base.
- [Investing in Saudi Arabia as a foreign company or investor](https://saudilaw.co/foreign-investment/) — You want to register, structure or protect an investment.
- [Recovering money owed in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/debt-recovery/) — A Saudi customer or partner has not paid you.
- [Disputes with Saudi distributors, agents, contractors and suppliers](https://saudilaw.co/distributor-contractor-disputes/) — A distribution deal or a project has gone wrong.

### Individuals and families

- [Facing a case, an arrest or a travel ban in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/cases-arrests-travel-bans/) — You or a relative has been stopped, held or named in a case.
- [Handling a Saudi legal matter from outside the Kingdom](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/) — You live elsewhere and need something done in Saudi Arabia.
- [Buying and owning property in Saudi Arabia as a foreigner](https://saudilaw.co/property-for-foreigners/) — You plan to buy, or you already own, property there.
- [Recovering money owed in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/debt-recovery/) — Someone in Saudi Arabia owes you money.

### Lawyers and advisers outside Saudi Arabia

- [Working with foreign law firms, insurers and advisers](https://saudilaw.co/for-advisers/) — You act for a client and need a Saudi lawyer for the Saudi side.

### Choosing and hiring a lawyer

- [How to check a Saudi lawyer's licence from anywhere](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/check-a-lawyers-licence/) — Each route, step by step.
- [Questions to ask before you hire a Saudi lawyer](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/questions-to-ask/) — A checklist for any lawyer.
- [How legal fees work in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/how-legal-fees-work/) — Common fee models, agreed in writing.
- [What only a Saudi-licensed lawyer can do](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/what-only-a-saudi-lawyer-can-do/) — Court work, and your lawyer at home.
- [Red flags when hiring a lawyer online](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/red-flags/) — Offers that need a closer look.
- [Embassy and consulate lawyer lists](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/embassy-lawyer-lists/) — What these lists are and are not.
- [Legal aid in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/legal-aid/) — Help for people who cannot pay a lawyer.
- [Complaints about a lawyer, and changing lawyers](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/complaints-and-changing-lawyers/) — When the work goes wrong.

Is something happening now, such as a detention, a stop at the airport or a deadline? Start with [urgent legal help in Saudi Arabia: what to do first](https://saudilaw.co/urgent/).

## How do you check that a Saudi lawyer is licensed?

Search the Saudi Bar Association's Lawyers Index, a public online directory. According to the Saudi Bar Association, it shows each lawyer's licence number, licence status and expiry date, and it needs no login. It is one of 3 official ways to check a Saudi lawyer, listed in the table below. The other two are the Bar Association's law firm check and the Ministry of Justice's list in Najiz.

The [Saudi Bar Association (SBA)](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/saudi-bar-association/) is the professional body for lawyers in Saudi Arabia. You search its directory by the lawyer's name or ID number. The results appear in Arabic, even on the English page, so ask how the lawyer's name is written in Arabic.

**Three ways to check a lawyer or law firm in Saudi Arabia**

| Route | What it shows | Saudi login needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Bar Association: Lawyers Index | A lawyer's licence number, licence status and expiry date, in Arabic | No |
| Saudi Bar Association: Legal Firm Validation | Whether a [legal establishment](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/) (a law firm) is licensed. You enter its legal-entity number or its owner's ID number. | No |
| Ministry of Justice: directory of practising lawyers in [Najiz](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/najiz/) | A list of practising lawyers | Yes, through Nafath |

Najiz is the Ministry of Justice's online platform for cases and powers of attorney. According to the Ministry of Justice, its directory of practising lawyers is a Najiz service. Najiz uses Nafath, the Saudi government's login app, which needs an ID issued in Saudi Arabia.

[How to check a Saudi lawyer's licence from anywhere](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/check-a-lawyers-licence/) explains each route, step by step.

## What should you ask before hiring a Saudi lawyer?

Ask who will handle your matter, which languages you can use, and how you will be kept updated. Also ask how the fee will be set in writing, and what the power of attorney will allow the lawyer to do.

You can ask all of these by message, phone or email before you sign anything. The checklist of [questions to ask before you hire a Saudi lawyer](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/questions-to-ask/) covers each one in more detail.

## How are legal fees usually structured in Saudi Arabia?

Under the Law of Legal Practice, a lawyer's fee, and how it is paid, are set by agreement between the lawyer and the client. Saudi professional rules require a written agreement before work starts.

It sets out the work and the fee, or how the fee will be worked out. Common ways to charge are:

- a fixed fee for defined work;
- a fee for each stage of a case;
- a fee based on the time spent;
- a retainer, which is a regular fee, often monthly, for ongoing advice.

[How legal fees work in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/how-legal-fees-work/) explains each model and what to ask.

## Can you work with a Saudi lawyer entirely from abroad?

Usually, yes, under a power of attorney. Some steps may still need you, or someone you have authorised, in person in Saudi Arabia.

A [power of attorney](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/power-of-attorney/) is a signed document that lets someone, such as a lawyer, act for you. You usually sign it in front of a notary in your own country. It then needs official stamps (an [apostille](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/apostille/) or legalisation), and often a certified Arabic translation.

Most people abroad cannot sign in to Najiz, so they work through a lawyer who holds a power of attorney. Saudi courts run most hearings electronically.

- [Power of attorney for Saudi Arabia, signed abroad](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/power-of-attorney/)
- [Apostille or legalisation? Documents for Saudi Arabia by country](https://saudilaw.co/documents-from-abroad/)

## What can only a Saudi-licensed lawyer do?

Only a lawyer licensed in Saudi Arabia can act as your lawyer before a Saudi court. A lawyer from your own country can advise you on that country's law and work alongside a Saudi lawyer.

Foreign law firms need a [licence from the Ministry of Justice](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/) to practise in Saudi Arabia. Lawyers qualified abroad may work inside licensed firms as [non-Saudi legal consultants](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/). They give advice, but they do not appear in court.

If you are a lawyer or adviser abroad, see [working with foreign law firms, insurers and advisers](https://saudilaw.co/for-advisers/).

## Where do foreigners usually find a Saudi lawyer?

Most people find names through their embassy, a referral, an online directory or a law firm's own website. Whatever the source, check the lawyer's licence yourself before you hire them.

**Where people look for a Saudi lawyer, and what each source is**

| Where people look | What it is | What it is not |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy or consulate lawyer lists | Lists that some governments publish to help their own citizens abroad | A recommendation. The UK government, for example, says it does not endorse the providers on its lists. |
| Referrals from your own lawyer or business contacts | A personal recommendation from someone you know | A licence check |
| Online directories and rankings | Lists of law firms and lawyers, often with profiles | A licence check. Each one sets its own rules on who appears, and in what order. |
| Business chambers and councils | Lists of their member companies | A licence check |
| A law firm's own website | What the firm says about itself | Independent proof. Compare the licence details it shows with the SBA's records. |

## If you'd like to talk to us

We explain how to find, check and hire a lawyer in Saudi Arabia, including how to verify any lawyer's licence from abroad.

Saudi Law is the website of RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations, a licensed law firm in Saudi Arabia. Your matter is handled by a licensed Saudi lawyer. These are the details to check:

- Licence number 4471 (Ministry of Justice)
- Unified number / commercial registration (CR): 7054038307
- Firm registration with the Saudi Bar Association: SBA00015608
- Firm name in Arabic: مكتب محاماة رائد الجهني وشركاؤه
- Lawyer: Raed AlJuhani, licensed Saudi lawyer, Founding Managing Partner
- Working languages: Arabic and English

Use the same checks on us. [Company details](https://saudilaw.co/about/verify-us/) shows where to find our records.

These are the areas we work in:

- [Company formation](https://saudilaw.co/company-formation/) — We help foreign businesses set up a company in Saudi Arabia, acting as your counsel and coordinating trusted licensed partners for the registration filings.
- [Foreign investment](https://saudilaw.co/foreign-investment/) — We advise foreign investors on registering, structuring, protecting and exiting an investment in Saudi Arabia.
- [Debt recovery and enforcement](https://saudilaw.co/debt-recovery/) — We recover money owed by companies and individuals in Saudi Arabia, including enforcing foreign judgments and arbitration awards.
- [Distributor, agency, contractor and supplier disputes](https://saudilaw.co/distributor-contractor-disputes/) — We act in disputes with Saudi distributors, agents, contractors and suppliers, from ending a distribution agreement to unpaid project work.
- [Foreigners facing a case, arrest or travel ban](https://saudilaw.co/cases-arrests-travel-bans/) — We help foreigners facing a case, an arrest or a travel ban in Saudi Arabia, and the families supporting them.
- [Handling a Saudi legal matter from abroad](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/) — We handle Saudi legal matters for people and companies outside the Kingdom, through a power of attorney and documents certified in their own country.
- [Property ownership by foreigners](https://saudilaw.co/property-for-foreigners/) — We advise foreigners buying and owning property in Saudi Arabia and check the deal before they pay.

Work starts only after an engagement letter, the written agreement between you and the firm, is signed. Legal fees are arranged directly with the firm, never on this site.

[How we work with clients outside Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/how-we-work/)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is there an official list of lawyers in Saudi Arabia (KSA)?

Yes. The Saudi Bar Association keeps a public directory of licensed lawyers, the Lawyers Index. You can search it by name or ID number without a login, and the results appear in Arabic. The Ministry of Justice also keeps a directory of practising lawyers on Najiz. See [how to check a Saudi lawyer's licence from anywhere](/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/check-a-lawyers-licence/).

### Can foreign lawyers practise in Saudi Arabia or represent me in a Saudi court?

Check before you rely on it. Saudi Arabia has a licensed legal profession: lawyers practise through a licensed legal establishment, such as a law firm, and the Saudi Bar Association is their professional body. Its Lawyers Index is a public list of licensed lawyers. A lawyer from your own country can still advise you on your own country's law and work alongside a Saudi lawyer on the Saudi side.

### Do Saudi courts work in Arabic?

Yes. Court work in Saudi Arabia is done in Arabic. Documents in other languages usually need a [certified translation](/glossary/#certified-translation), made by an approved translation office. If a translation of a Saudi law differs from the official Arabic text, the Arabic text is the one that applies. We work in Arabic and English, and can explain each step to you in English.

### How much does a lawyer cost in Saudi Arabia?

There is no standard price; it depends on the work. With us, the fee is agreed in writing before any work starts, once we understand the matter. It may be fixed, paid in stages or based on the time spent. Some costs, such as government fees, are set by others. See [how legal fees work in Saudi Arabia](/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/how-legal-fees-work/).

### Are embassy lists of lawyers in Saudi Arabia recommendations?

No. Embassy lists help you find names, but they are not recommendations. The UK government, for example, says it does not endorse or recommend the providers on its lists. Whichever list you use, including online directories and referrals, check the lawyer's licence yourself in the Saudi Bar Association's Lawyers Index before you hire them.

### Someone says they are a Saudi lawyer and wants money upfront. What should I do?

Check the lawyer's licence in the Saudi Bar Association's Lawyers Index before you pay anything. Then contact the firm through the phone number or email it publishes itself. Fees should be agreed in writing and paid directly to the firm. Do not reply, pay or send documents under pressure to decide the same day.

### Can a lawyer in Saudi Arabia promise you a result?

No. Saudi professional rules don't allow lawyers to promise results they don't control. Be careful with anyone who promises a fixed outcome. A lawyer can explain the steps and the risks, and put the terms of the work in writing.

## Official sources

- Saudi Bar Association: [Lawyers Index](https://eservice.sba.gov.sa/en/lawyers) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Saudi Bar Association: [Legal Firm Validation](https://eservice.sba.gov.sa/en/ler-check) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Ministry of Justice: [Directory of practicing lawyers](https://www.moj.gov.sa/english/eservices/pages/10abd1a2-a4c2-4951-a464-ac926eb24417.aspx) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Ministry of Justice: [Najiz: Directory of practising lawyers](https://najiz.sa/applications/lawyers/LawyersInquire) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Ministry of Justice: [Law of Legal Practice](https://laws.moj.gov.sa/ar/legislation/PP5rr6HnHC8skiEH5baGkg) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Ministry of Justice: [Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers](https://laws.moj.gov.sa/ar/legislation/JmI0BPgVlA5GuIxkJUi08A) (checked 2026-10-19)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: [Find a professional service abroad - Terms and conditions](https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/help/terms-and-conditions) (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.

---
Saudi Law is operated by RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations, licensed in Saudi Arabia. https://saudilaw.co/find-a-lawyer-in-saudi-arabia/