Royal Court Petition (Ma'rood) 2026: Format, Official Channels, and How to Submit

A Royal Court petition (ma'rood) is a formal letter that a citizen or resident sends to the King's Court or the Crown Prince's Court to request help on a case where the normal administrative process has been exhausted. The Court doesn't rule on the case itself — it forwards the case to the competent authority with a recommendation for careful review. Drafting the petition well multiplies the chance of a response, and sending it through the correct channel prevents it being lost.

When to submit a petition

A petition is not a substitute for the standard procedures — it is a step after they have been exhausted. Cases typically accepted:

| Type | Example | |---|---| | Urgent humanitarian | Medical costs, family in hardship, housing lost after disaster | | Pardon request | Prisoner pardon, sentence reduction, private-right waiver | | Administrative complaint | Government decision after appeal and litigation | | National suggestion | Projects, legislation, government services | | Aid request | Employment for people with disabilities, help for a prisoner's family |

Not accepted: cases pending court judgment, private banking matters, individual commercial disputes, standard employment requests.

Correct petition structure

The petition follows a standardised format. Any deviation causes the Court to return or ignore it.

                                                                    Date: __ / __ / 144_ AH

              His Majesty King [Name], may God protect him
              (or: His Royal Highness the Crown Prince)

              Peace be upon you, and God's mercy and blessings. And thereafter:

              From: [Full four-part name]
              ID number: [10 digits]
              Nationality: [Saudi / Resident]
              Address: [District — City]
              Mobile: [+9665…]

              Subject: [Very short title, e.g., Request for medical support for my mother]

              [Body: 3 to 5 paragraphs only]
              Para 1: Brief background (who you are, current situation).
              Para 2: The case itself in brief chronological order.
              Para 3: Formal steps you've taken and their outcome (with reference numbers where possible).
              Para 4: A single clear request in one sentence.
              Para 5: Thanks, prayers, and request for consideration.

              Attachments:
              — ID copy.
              — Supporting documents (medical reports, decisions, correspondence).

              Peace be upon you, and God's mercy and blessings.
              [Signature]
              [Name]

Drafting rules

• Formal, understated language: no rhyming prose, no long poetic introductions. The Court processes thousands of petitions monthly; clarity wins.
• Facts with numbers: instead of "the illness is severe," write "KFSH Hospital report no. 2026-45678 confirms the diagnosis of…"
• One clear request: don't combine multiple asks in one petition. One case, one petition.
• Brevity: two pages maximum. Long petitions are skimmed.
• Respectful without pleading: respect is required; excessive begging weakens the letter.
• No accusations: if the petition is against an authority, cite the action and the reference number — avoid personal descriptions of employees.

Official submission channels

| Channel | How | Notes | |---|---|---| | Royal Court e-portal | royalcourt.gov.sa — "Communications & Petitions" section | Fastest, best documented — gives a case number immediately on submission | | Government 'Tawasul' portal | tawasul.moe.gov.sa — select "Royal Court" as recipient | Useful if you are outside Riyadh | | Official mail — Riyadh | Royal Court headquarters, Riyadh (PO Box officially published) | Accepted but slower to process | | Personal visit | Court building — Riyadh, by appointment | Rare cases only — don't rely on this |

Important warning: "Royal Court WhatsApp" or "direct Crown Prince number" circulated in WhatsApp groups are not official and are often scams. Only use the channels listed above.

Tracking the petition

After submission, you'll receive a case number. Track it from the same platform where you submitted. Typical stages:

1. Received: reached the Court.
2. Under review: assessed by the petitions department.
3. Referred to competent authority: the ministry, agency, or governorate is notified to review.
4. Final response: comes from the competent authority via its own portal or SMS.

The Court does not rule directly; the final answer comes from the authority to which the case was referred. If you receive an unsatisfactory response, you may re-petition with new documents — not just a repeat of the same letter.

Common mistakes that waste your effort

• Emotional phrasing: sentimental language weakens the document.
• Petition without ID or reference number: discarded.
• Sending the same petition on multiple channels simultaneously: flagged as duplicate and rejected.
• Combining multiple requests: each case needs its own petition.
• Poor-quality attachments: unclear scans cause the file to be skipped.
• Promising documents "later": attach everything at once.

Related articles

• Tawasul government platform — complaints and suggestions
• Appealing administrative decisions — legal routes
• Citizen Account — appealing rejection

Sources:

• Official Royal Court website — royalcourt.gov.sa
• Government 'Tawasul' portal — tawasul.moe.gov.sa
• Human Rights Commission — hrc.gov.sa (for humanitarian cases).

Alternatives to Consider Before a Royal Court Petition

Before turning to the Royal Court, there are dedicated channels that are shorter and more effective for specific case types. A Royal Court petition is used after exhausting these channels:

| Case type | Most appropriate channel first | |---|---| | Administrative decision you want to appeal | Board of Grievances — Administrative Court | | Dispute between citizen and company | Ministry of Commerce or Commercial Court | | Labor case | Qiwa then Labor Court | | Human rights violation | Human Rights Commission | | Administrative or financial corruption | Control and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) | | Health case | Ministry of Health — patient rights complaint | | Educational case | Ministry of Education Tawasul | | Insurance case | Central Bank (SAMA) for insurance complaint |

The Royal Court values your petition more when it sees you've tried these channels seriously — your documentation supports your petition.

The Crown Prince Court and Its Specific Petitions

The Crown Prince Court has an independent track (though the Royal Court remains the mother entity) via the Crown Prince's official channels and the government's official digital channels. The Crown Prince's track specifically receives:

• Vision 2030 initiatives: suggestions for improving projects.
• Youth causes: entrepreneurship, employment, scholarships.
• Technology and innovation causes: tech projects, requests for talent support.
• Humanitarian cases with national impact.

The practical difference with the King's Court: the Crown Prince's track is faster in handling technical and strategic cases, while humanitarian, family, and legal cases are handled more specialized at the King's Court.

Can I Write the Petition with a Lawyer's Help?

Yes, and it's recommended for complex legal cases. A lawyer licensed by the Saudi Bar Association can:

• Draft the document in correct legal language.
• Reference statutory texts supporting your request.
• Organize attachments and case numbers logically.
• Attach judicial precedents if there's a similar ruling in your favor.

But the petition's final signature must be yours personally — the court prefers the direct message from its owner. The lawyer's role is advisory, not substitutive.

What If the Petition Is Rejected?

Rejection from the Royal Court doesn't mean closing the door. Available options:

1. Resubmit with new documents: if new documents emerged, attach them with reference to the previous petition number.
2. Turn to the Human Rights Commission: if the case is rights-related, via hrc.gov.sa.
3. Administrative Court: for administrative decisions, via Board of Grievances.
4. Royal amnesty on occasions: for criminal cases, submitted before national and religious holidays.

Patience is a key part — some cases took months before a response.