Al-Maarifa

What is Al-Maarifa?

“Al-Maarifa” is the Arabic term for “The Knowledge” and it is also the name of our microsite that is exclusively dedicated to our Saudi Arabian practice. Al-Maarifa is a way for us to share our market-leading legal knowledge of the Kingdom with our clients in a unique and innovative way that demonstrates our commitment to always putting our clients first.

Who are we?

With a greater footprint in the Kingdom than any other international law firm, we are uniquely aligned with our domestic clients and our foreign clients looking to do business in the Kingdom. The combination of our history of advising both domestic and foreign clients on their largest and most significant deals in the region for over 40 years and our on-the-ground presence in Riyadh through our association with The Law Firm of Dr. Sultan Almasoud, provides our clients with access to an integrated team that has an intimate understanding of both the cultural and legal landscape of the Kingdom.

We have extensive experience across a broad range of practice areas, including project development and finance, mergers & acquisitions, foreign and domestic joint ventures, privatizations, private equity and Saudi corporate advisory, capital markets, dispute resolution and litigation in Saudi courts.

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• The New KSA Civil Code: Termination of Contracts
  10/27/2023
  Prior to the new Civil Transactions Law of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (referred to as the “KSA Civil Code”), there were no detailed rules on termination (or faskh) at law in Saudi Arabia. As with other areas of Saudi law, the courts would interpret  termination provisions in contracts in line with Sharia principles, as informed by various sources of jurisprudence.
  
  The new KSA Civil Code now provides greater certainty through clear, codified provisions on how parties can terminate a contract, and the practical effects of such a decision on the parties’ contractual positions. This article sets out the key Articles within the KSA Civil Code which govern termination and rescission.
  CATEGORIES : Saudi New Companies Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Disputes, Industry Sectors, Oil & Gas, Mining in KSA, Renewable Energy in KSA, Telecoms in KSA, Healthcare in KSA, Financial Institutions in KSA, Industrials in KSA, Projects, International Arbitration
• The New KSA Civil Code: Construction Contracts
  10/18/2023

  In our first two articles in this series, we introduced the new Civil Transactions Law of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (referred to as the “KSA Civil Code”) and provided analysis of its key provisions relevant to forming contracts.

  In this article, we consider the impact of the KSA Civil Code’s key provisions of particular interest to parties engaging in construction contracts in Saudi Arabia. These include both general contractual principles, as well as specific provisions related to contracts for service, known as Muqawala contracts.

  CATEGORIES : General, Mergers & Acquisitions, Disputes, Industry Sectors, Oil & Gas, Mining in KSA, Renewable Energy in KSA, Telecoms in KSA, Healthcare in KSA, Financial Institutions in KSA, Industrials in KSA, Projects, International Arbitration
• The New KSA Civil Code: Forming a Contract
  10/16/2023
  In our initial article in this series, we introduced the new Civil Code of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (referred to as the “KSA Civil Code”). This significant legislative milestone codifies the law governing the forming of a contract and related contractual principles within the Kingdom.
  
  In this article, we examine the general provisions of the new KSA Civil Code relevant to the formation of a contract and highlight the key considerations to keep in mind.
  CATEGORIES : General, Mergers & Acquisitions, Disputes, Industry Sectors, Oil & Gas, Mining in KSA, Renewable Energy in KSA, Telecoms in KSA, Healthcare in KSA, Financial Institutions in KSA, Industrials in KSA, Projects, International Arbitration
• Introducing the New KSA Civil Code
  10/12/2023
  On 19 June 2023, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enacted the Civil Transactions Law in Cabinet Decision No. 820/1444 (the “KSA Civil Code” or the “Code”) by Royal Decree M/191/1444. The Code, which enters into force on 16 December 2023 (Jumada II 3, 1445 AH), marks a significant step forward in Saudi Arabia’s legal landscape as it seeks to integrate Islamic principles into modern legal concepts, aiming to streamline transactions and promote economic growth. The KSA Civil Code covers a range of topics, from contracts and property rights to financial transactions and dispute resolution.
  CATEGORIES : General, Mergers & Acquisitions, Disputes, Industry Sectors, Oil & Gas, Mining in KSA, Renewable Energy in KSA, Telecoms in KSA, Healthcare in KSA, Financial Institutions in KSA, Industrials in KSA, Projects, International Arbitration
• Introduction to the Legal System of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  03/11/2020
  This article sets out a brief overview of the legal system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  CATEGORIES : General, Disputes, International Arbitration
• Enforcement of Foreign Judgments and Arbitral Awards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  09/30/2016
  In 2012, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia introduced a new Arbitration Law (the “Arbitration Law”) which replaced the previous Arbitration Law of 1983. The Arbitration Law is largely based on the 1985 UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration and introduced a number of promising changes to arbitration as a method of dispute resolution in the Kingdom. However, presently it is difficult to assess the degree of change in practice. It remains to be seen how Saudi courts will apply the law going forward. The implementing regulations of the Arbitration Law are yet to be enacted.
  CATEGORY : Disputes