With the help of Allah the Almighty
We, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud,
the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
based on article 70 of the Basic Law of Governance issued by Royal Order O/90 dated 27 Sha’ban 1412 [1 March 1992],
based on article 20 of the Law of the Council of Ministers issued by Royal Order O/13 dated 3 Rabi Al-Awwal 1414 [20 August 1993],
based on article 18 of the Law of the Shura Council issued by Royal Order O/91 dated 27 Sha’ban 1412 [1 March 1992],
after perusal of Shura Council Decision 468/40 dated 15 Muharram 1448 [30 June 2026],
and after perusal of Council of Ministers Decision 296 dated 26 Rabi Al-Awwal 1448 [8 September 2026],
have decreed as follows
First
The amendment to the Law of the Judiciary issued by Royal Decree D/78 dated 19 Ramadan 1428 [1 October 2007] is hereby approved as follows:
1. Article 31(e) is amended to read as follows:
That his age is not less than 35 years (if he is appointed to the grade of Appellate Judge) and not less than 22 years (if he is appointed to one of the other grades of the judicial corps).
2. Article 32 is amended to read as follows:
The grades of the judicial corps are:
Judicial Associate, Judge (C), Judge (B), Judge (A), Court President (B), Court President (A), Appellate Judge, Assistant President of an Appellate Court, Vice President of an Appellate Court, President of an Appellate Court, and President of the Supreme Court. These grades must be filled in accordance with the provisions of this law.
3. Article 35 is amended to read as follows:
A person holding the grade of Judge (B) must have served at least one year in the grade of Judge (C); or have performed equivalent judicial work for at least three years; or have taught fiqh or usul al-fiqh at a college in the Kingdom for at least three years; or hold a master’s degree from the Higher Judicial Institute, or from a Sharia college in the Kingdom, with a specialization in fiqh or usul al-fiqh; or hold a diploma in law from the Institute of Public Administration, with an accredited period of study of not less than two years, while also holding a degree from a Sharia college in the Kingdom with an overall grade of not less than “Good” and a grade of not less than “Very Good” in fiqh and usul al-fiqh.
4. Article 36 is amended to read as follows:
A person holding the grade of Judge (A) must have served at least three years in the grade of Judge (B); or have performed equivalent judicial work for at least seven years; or have taught fiqh or usul al-fiqh at a college in the Kingdom for at least seven years; or hold a doctorate from the Higher Judicial Institute, or from a Sharia college in the Kingdom, with a specialization in fiqh or usul al-fiqh.
5. Article 37 is amended to read as follows:
A person holding the grade of Court President (B) must have served at least three years in the grade of Judge (A); or have performed equivalent judicial work for at least ten years; or have taught fiqh or usul al-fiqh at a college in the Kingdom for at least ten years.
6. Article 38 is amended to read as follows:
A person holding the grade of Court President (A) must have served at least two years in the grade of Court President (B); or have performed equivalent judicial work for at least 12 years; or have taught fiqh or usul al-fiqh at a college in the Kingdom for at least 12 years.
7. Article 39 is amended to read as follows:
A person holding the grade of Appellate Judge must have served at least two years in the grade of Court President (A); or have performed equivalent judicial work for at least 14 years; or have taught fiqh or usul al-fiqh at a college in the Kingdom for at least 14 years.
8. Article 40 is amended to read as follows:
A person holding the grade of Assistant President of an Appellate Court must have served at least two years in the grade of Appellate Judge; or have performed equivalent judicial work for at least 16 years; or have taught fiqh or usul al-fiqh at a college in the Kingdom for at least 16 years.
9. Article 41 is amended to read as follows:
A person holding the grade of Vice President of an Appellate Court must have served at least two years in the grade of Assistant President of an Appellate Court; or have performed equivalent judicial work for at least 18 years; or have taught fiqh or usul al-fiqh at a college in the Kingdom for at least 18 years.
10. Article 42 is amended to read as follows:
A person holding the grade of President of an Appellate Court must have served at least two years in the grade of Vice President of an Appellate Court.
Second
His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, the ministers, and the heads of independent concerned agencies—each within their mandates—shall implement this decree of Ours.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Issued on: 3 Rabi Al-Thani 1448
Corresponding to: 14 September 2026
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5186 issued on 26 September 2026.