The Foundation
The establishment of the Ministry of Justice in 1962 in Saudi Arabia was the beginning of a vision. Over six decades later, it remains one of Saudi Arabia’s three ministries that have not undergone a merger, abolition, or renaming. The other ministries with the same designation are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health.
However, the ministry’s operations did not commence until 1970. Mohammed Bin Ali al-Harkhan was the first appointed minister, serving until 1975, and he first shaped the vision of the ministry.
What the Ministry Actually Does
The Ministry of Justice is not merely limited to the operation of courthouses. Its mandate extends to safeguarding citizens’ rights and ensuring equitable resolutions of conflicts.
The ministry provides the courts with everything necessary: tools, qualified personnel, budgetary allocations, and operational management. The ministry manages court infrastructure so that the movement of cases is efficient. The ministry supervises advocacy and mediation services. Therefore, the ministry provides the courts with the necessary operational support to manage themselves.
From its Riyadh headquarters, the ministry directs all administrative activities pertaining to the courts of the Kingdom. By Royal Decree, a Minister is assigned the position of Supervisor of the Operation and is a member of the Council of Ministers.
The Symbol and What It Means
Every ministry has a logo, and there is a story behind the design of the ministry’s logo. The two crossed swords and a palm tree are a reproduction of the national emblem. The open book is a symbol of the Noble Quran and the Sunnah. The balance is a symbol of justice. The ministry’s name is flanked by three steps that denote the three court levels: the court of first instance, the court of appeal, and the court of cassation.
This wasn’t random design. Every element carries meaning about how the system works and what it values.
Ancient Roots, Modern Purpose
Justice in the Kingdom goes back further than the ministry itself. When King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud unified the Kingdom, he ordered courts opened in every jurisdiction. The first unified judiciary headquarters was established in Makkah al-Mukarramah in 1926. That became the cornerstone for everything that came after.
By the time the ministry was formally established in 1962, the foundation already existed. The ministry just formalized and strengthened what was already in motion.
What Changed With Vision 2030
The Saudi Vision 2030 was never about the economy alone. In 2016, following the announcement of the initiative by Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the Ministry of Justice set 13 strategic objectives as part of it.
The focus of the ministry shifted. Rather than simply preserving the status quo, the ministry began to modernize the system. Currently, the focus of the work is on courts improvement, seamless system accessibility, judicial personnel training and development, and a positive commitment to digital evolution.
What the Ministry Oversees Now
The ministry manages six main sectors: the judiciary, enforcement, documentation, reconciliation, advocacy, and the Judicial Training Center.
Recent developments include strengthening commercial courts, securing real estate transactions, and integrating various dispute resolution bodies. The ministry also pushed forward digital programs, which led to systems like e-Litigation that let people handle cases online.
The focus shifted from just processing cases to making the entire experience faster, clearer, and more accessible.
The Current Mission
Today’s Ministry of Justice is operating with updated priorities. It’s boosting efficiency in how courts function. It’s improving the experience for everyone who interacts with the judicial system. It’s investing in people, making sure judicial staff have the training and resources they need.
The digital transformation push changed how justice operates. Courts aren’t just physical spaces anymore. They’re also online platforms where cases move forward without people having to physically appear.
The ministry also strengthened enforcement mechanisms and improved documentation security, which matters for property rights and commercial transactions.
What is the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Justice responsible for?
The Ministry of Justice oversees all courts in Saudi Arabia, manages their financial and administrative needs, supervises judicial staff and training, oversees advocacy and reconciliation services, and handles enforcement and documentation sectors. It reports to the Council of Ministers and operates from headquarters in Riyadh.
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