Commercial courts to boost investment in Kingdom

RIYADH: Justice Minister Walid Al-Samaani has officially launched the commercial courts after they had started to operate on Muharram 1 of this year.

Al-Samaani, who is also the Supreme Judicial Council chairman, said the three commercial courts in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam would help enhance the business environment, encourage investment and boost economic development, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Al-Samaani also said specialized commercial chambers had also opened within the public courts in a number of Saudi cities.

The justice minister said the new measures would uphold the rights of the people and ensure a sound business environment.

He also said that the tripartite working group — comprising the Supreme Judicial Council, the Ministry of Justice and the Board of Grievances — had worked for the past two years to transfer commercial courts from the Board of Grievances to the Ministry of Justice.

Al-Samaani said that the ministry had launched the “paperless court” project, which cut down around 45 percent of procedures, and shortened the period for execution of judicial orders from two months to only 72 hours.

“This e-link has been activated so far with 19 government agencies to provide around 60 e-services to clients,” the minister said.

He said that the ministry had started the gradual implementation of the e-link between the courts of first instance and appeals courts to electronically transfer the full case.

Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Yousuf, head of the Board of Grievances, said: “The entire judiciary is proud to achieve the loftiest goals and the high expectations of our authorities under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”