Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Justice Waleed Al-Samaani

:: Minister of Justice Waleed Al-Samaani on Monday authorized lawyers from the Gulf states to be allowed to practice law in Saudi Arabia.

The decision included adding an article to the executive regulations of the legal system stating that foreign law firms may not be registered unless each partner is licensed to practice law in the Kingdom.

Conditions for the new decision stipulate that a lawyer should be a citizen of one of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and be licensed to practice law in their country. The Gulf lawyer’s license issued by his country should be valid and being a resident in Saudi Arabia is not required.

This decision comes in accordance with the directives of the Council of Ministers to review the provisions contained in the executive regulations of the legal system regarding the conditions and restrictions of applicants from the GCC in practicing law to apply full equality of treatment.

Dima Al-Shareef, a Saudi legal counsellor told News Agency: “The approval of Gulf lawyers on the Saudi lawyers’ list will, of course, add a healthy diversity to the profession of law in the Kingdom and will facilitate the procedures of litigation to many Gulf companies located in the Kingdom, thus enhancing their investments in the Kingdom.”

Najoud Qassem Supervisor of the Judicial Aid Integration Initiative, told News Agency: “It’s important for citizens of the GCC to have some kind of equality by being able to practice their work here in the Kingdom; practicing law in the Kingdom will offer exchange of experiences between the Saudi and Gulf lawyers, as well as partnerships, and it will provide a wider range for more trainees and those wishing to work in the legal profession.”