Filing a Lawsuit and Attending a Hearing via Najiz 2026: Complete Guide

Filing a lawsuit in Saudi Arabia today doesn't require visiting the court. Through Najiz, the Ministry of Justice's digital platform, the case sheet is submitted electronically, fees paid, hearings scheduled, and attended by video — all without leaving home. This guide walks the steps at a practical level for anyone who hasn't filed before, and for those wanting to understand the process before consulting a lawyer.

Before filing — 4 checks

Ask yourself before filing:

1. Have you exhausted amicable resolution? Some disputes (especially labour and commercial) must go through mediation before court, otherwise the case is dismissed procedurally.
2. Is your case within Saudi courts' jurisdiction? If the other party is outside the Kingdom, you may need international channels.
3. Do you have the original documents? You cannot file a claim without initial evidence.
4. Are you within the statutory period? Some claims lapse (labour claims after a year from end of relationship).

Saudi courts and their jurisdictions

Each case type falls under a specific court. Najiz routes automatically, but knowing helps:

| Court | Jurisdiction | |---|---| | Labour Court | Employment disputes — wages, arbitrary dismissal, leave, end-of-service | | Commercial Court | Corporate disputes, commercial contracts, banking, insurance | | General Court | General civil, real estate, judgment execution | | Personal Status Court | Divorce, custody, alimony, inheritance, wills | | Execution Court | Enforcement of judgments, returned cheques, bonds | | Court of Appeals | Appeals against first-instance judgments | | Supreme Court | Cassation on major judgments |

Steps to file a lawsuit via Najiz

Step 1: Sign in

• Open najiz.sa and choose "Sign In."
• You're routed to Nafath national single sign-on.
• Enter your ID, approve the sign-in from the Nafath app on your phone.

Step 2: Choose "Case Sheet"

• From Home → "Judicial Services" → "Case Sheet."
• Choose the case type (labour, commercial, personal status…).
• Read the filing conditions — some cases require a mediation certificate or attempted settlement.

Step 3: Party details

| Field | What to enter | |---|---| | Plaintiff | Your data — pulled from Absher automatically | | Defendant | Full name, ID or commercial registration, mobile, address | | Subject | Short sentence (e.g., "Claim for delayed wages") | | Claim value (if any) | In SAR |

Note: defendant data must be accurate. A name that doesn't match the ID = case rejection.

Step 4: Case details

The most important part, and must be organised and clear. Practical rule: story → demands → evidence.

Recommended structure:

First: Facts
- State when the relationship/dispute began.
- List events chronologically.
- Identify the moment the damage occurred.
- Note the amicable-resolution attempts you made and their outcomes.

Second: Evidence
- Attached documents (invoices, contracts, messages, witnesses).
- Each document with its reference number.

Third: Demands
- The specific demand in detail: e.g., "Order the defendant to pay 12,000 SAR being March and April 2025 wages."
- Additional requests if any (compensation, legal interest, case fees).

Step 5: Attach documents

• Upload clear scans (PDF or JPG) of each document.
• Clear file names: "employment-contract.pdf," "bank-statement.pdf."
• Max size typically 20 MB per file.
• Don't hide evidence: withholding evidence that the defendant later reveals weakens you.

Step 6: Review and pay fees

• Najiz shows a case-sheet summary — review carefully.
• Fees shown if any — paid via mada or credit card.
• After payment, your case number appears — save it.

Step 7: Wait for the hearing date

• The court notifies the defendant electronically.
• Within days to weeks, you receive an SMS with the hearing date.
• The date also appears in the Najiz app on your phone.

Attending the hearing by video

Most Saudi hearings today run on the "Virtual Court" platform integrated in Najiz.

Preparation before the hearing

• Quiet space: no noise, no TV behind you.
• Simple background: a plain wall preferred.
• Respectful attire: as if attending court in person.
• Good hardware: HD camera, clear mic, stable internet.
• Documents ready: digital copies on screen, printed as backup.

Joining the hearing

| Step | Detail | |---|---| | 1 | 10 minutes before the hearing: Najiz → My Cases → Case → "Hearings" | | 2 | "Join Hearing" — video window opens | | 3 | Approve camera and microphone | | 4 | Virtual room appears: you, the defendant, the judge | | 5 | Judge starts by verifying party identities | | 6 | Each party speaks in turn — no interruptions | | 7 | Hearing is auto-recorded in the court system |

Hearing etiquette

• Stand when addressing the judge if possible.
• Begin with "Your Honour" or the judge's proper title.
• Do not interrupt: wait for permission to speak.
• Direct answers: no digressions.
• Complete honesty: lying in court carries severe penalties.
• Do not mute your microphone without permission.

If the connection drops

• The hearing is temporarily suspended.
• Reconnect within 5 minutes.
• If the disconnect persists, the hearing is automatically postponed.

When do you need physical attendance?

• Criminal cases.
• Cases requiring inspection (e.g., real-estate dispute needing site view).
• Cases with multiple witnesses sometimes.
• Judge's discretion: the judge may require physical attendance of any party.

Physical hearing is at the court itself. You receive a notice of attendance with room number and time.

After the hearing

• Hearing minutes: published in Najiz within 48 hours — review for accuracy.
• Multiple hearings: most cases need 2-5 hearings.
• Deadlines: the judge may request additional documents by a specific date — don't be late.
• Judgment: appears in Najiz as soon as issued.

Appealing the judgment

• Appeal window: 30 days from receiving the judgment (10 days in some urgent cases).
• Method: via Najiz → Case → "Objection/Appeal."
• Attach appeal reasons and new evidence if any.
• Court of Appeals reviews within two months to a year.

When do you need a lawyer?

You can file a lawsuit yourself via Najiz. But engaging a lawyer helps if:

• The case has high value (over 50,000 SAR usually).
• The opponent is a large company or government entity.
• The case is legally complex (partnerships, bankruptcy, corporates).
• You've lost a similar case before.
• You don't know the difference between "claim," "allegation," and "urgent motion."

Fees vary — from 2,000 SAR for a simple case to a percentage of the judgment value for major commercial matters.

Mistakes that hurt your case

• Case without documents: rejected immediately.
• Inaccurate defendant data: prolonged delay.
• Vague demands ("I want my right"): the judge won't know what "right" is.
• Secretly recording the hearing: illegal.
• Speaking on speakerphone during the hearing: not accepted.
• Making a statement on WhatsApp with the defendant after filing: may be used against you.

Related articles

• Najiz — powers of attorney and documents
• Saudi labour law — core rights
• Nafath — single sign-on
• Qiwa — labour complaints

Sources:

• Official Najiz platform — najiz.sa
• Saudi Ministry of Justice — moj.gov.sa
• Saudi Bar Association — sba.gov.sa (to engage a certified lawyer).