Debt collection in Saudi Arabia under the new 2026 Enforcement Law: when you can go straight to the Enforcement Court, when you need a lawsuit first, and what a debtor faces if they do not pay within five working days.
A client, partner or individual owes you money, and every time you follow up the answer is "tomorrow"? This is the question we hear most at Nova Legal from companies and individuals alike. The good news is that debt collection in Saudi Arabia has become clearer and faster, especially under the new Enforcement Law, published in the Umm Al-Qura Official Gazette on 1 May 2026 and in force since 28 October 2026, replacing the Enforcement Law of 1433 AH.
This guide explains, in plain language, which instruments you can enforce directly, what to do if you have no enforceable instrument, what happens to a debtor who does not pay, the mistakes that cost creditors their money, and when you need a lawyer to handle the file.
The short answer: how do you collect a debt in Saudi Arabia?
It depends on the evidence you hold:
- If you hold an enforcement instrument (a judgment, a cheque, an electronically registered promissory note, a notarized contract or settlement): file an enforcement request directly through the Najiz platform, with no lawsuit needed.
- If you do not (invoices, an ordinary contract, messages, bank transfers): start with a formal demand, then file a lawsuit with the competent court, and after judgment move to the Enforcement Court.
Either way, if the debtor does not pay within five working days of being notified of the enforcement order, compulsory enforcement against their assets starts immediately.
Which instruments are enforceable under the new Enforcement Law?
An enforcement instrument is the document that lets you enforce directly. Article 7 of the new law lists them as follows:
| Enforcement instrument | Key note |
|---|---|
| Final judgments, orders and decisions of Saudi courts | Including judgments with immediate enforceability |
| Arbitral awards | Under the Arbitration Law |
| Notarized settlement and reconciliation agreements | Notarized under the Notarization Law or issued by authorized bodies |
| Cheques | Directly enforceable |
| Bills of exchange and promissory notes | Only if registered on the national electronic platforms; the Implementing Regulations set the conditions |
| Notarized contracts and acknowledgments | Notarized under the Notarization Law |
| Foreign judgments and instruments | Subject to Article 9 |
| Instruments given enforceable status by a law or a Council of Ministers decision | Per the specific provision |
A warning about paper promissory notes: one of the most important changes in the new law is that bills of exchange and promissory notes are enforceable only if registered on the national electronic platforms. If your business still relies on paper notes, review them before counting on them for collection.
Route one: you hold an enforcement instrument (direct enforcement)
- Prepare the instrument: the original cheque, the electronic note number or the judgment, plus the debtor's details.
- File an enforcement request on Najiz: from your own account or through your agent. If a lawyer will act for you, they need an electronic power of attorney via Najiz.
- The enforcement order is issued and served: the five-working-day clock starts on the date of notification.
- If the debtor does not pay: compulsory enforcement against their assets begins, with the measures explained below.
- Track the request: you can follow its status online, as explained in our guide to case inquiry on Najiz.
Remember: Article 11 bars enforcement requests on instruments that fell due more than ten years earlier, so do not leave that cheque sitting in a drawer.
Overdue debt backed by a cheque or judgment?
We review the instrument, file the enforcement request, and follow attachment and enforcement through to collection. Under our collection service, no additional fees are charged if the debt is not collected.
info@novalegal.sa | Al-Sahaba Road, Ishbilia, Riyadh
Route two: no enforcement instrument (demand, then lawsuit)
Most business debts are supply or service invoices or unnotarized contracts. In that case you cannot go straight to the Enforcement Court; you need a judgment first:
- Formal demand: a clear statement of account and a written demand with a deadline. Many debts are settled at this stage when the demand is serious and well organized.
- Written notice before filing: in commercial cases, the Implementing Regulations of the Commercial Courts Law require, in most cases, written notice to the defendant before the claim is filed.
- File the claim online: with the Commercial Court for commercial disputes, or the competent court depending on the dispute. See our step-by-step guide to filing a claim with the Commercial Court.
- Judgment, then enforcement: once final, the judgment becomes an enforcement instrument and you follow route one.
Do not wait: Article 24 of the Commercial Courts Law provides that claims within the Commercial Court's jurisdiction are not heard after five years from the date the right arose, unless the defendant acknowledges the right or the claimant presents an excuse the court accepts.
What happens if the debtor does not pay within five working days?
This is where the new law makes the real difference. The focus is now on the debtor's assets, not the debtor's person:
| Measure | Article | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory enforcement against assets | 18(1) | Starts immediately after five working days from notification; a sufficient bank guarantee buys the debtor ten additional working days |
| Credit bureaus notified and assets attached | 18(2) | Including amounts owed to the debtor by government entities |
| Daily fine | 18(3) | The court may impose a daily fine of up to SAR 5,000 until enforcement is complete, within a cap set by the Regulations |
| Travel ban | 19 | At the creditor's request, for up to 3 years, renewable, up to a maximum of 6 years |
| Asset disclosure | 15 | The debtor must disclose assets; the court may order third parties to disclose where concealment is suspected |
| Asset tracing and questioning | 20 and 21 | Where there is evidence of concealment |
| Salary attachment | 26 | Up to one third of salary for non-alimony debts, and up to one quarter of a pension |
What about imprisonment? The new law limits detention under Article 37 to direct enforcement cases (performing or refraining from an act) after 30 working days of enforcement measures. For money debts, the tools are attachment, tracing and travel bans. At the same time, Article 50 punishes anyone who conceals or smuggles assets, obstructs enforcement or submits false information with up to 3 years in prison and/or a fine of up to SAR 1 million.
Enforcement costs are, as a rule, borne by the debtor under Article 32, unless another party caused them.
Common mistakes that cost creditors their money
- Relying on unregistered paper promissory notes: under the new law they may not be enforceable, forcing you to sue.
- Relying on calls and WhatsApp alone: without a contract, approved invoices or a written acknowledgment, proof becomes harder.
- Waiting too long: five years for commercial claims, and ten years from the due date for enforcement requests.
- Choosing the wrong court: filing with a court that lacks jurisdiction can cost months.
- Accepting partial payments without documentation: document any settlement, since a notarized settlement is itself an enforcement instrument under Article 7.
How to protect your business from bad debts from day one
- Use clear supply and service contracts with payment terms, late-payment penalties and a dispute-resolution clause.
- Ask for a registered electronic promissory note, a cheque or a bank guarantee for large amounts.
- Document any rescheduling or settlement so it becomes an enforcement instrument.
- Start collection early: a debt that is months old is far easier to recover than one that is years old.
How Nova Legal helps you collect your debts
Through our legal collection services, we handle:
- Negotiation and communication with debtors to reach fast, lawful solutions.
- Collection of bank debts, loans and credit facilities for businesses and individuals.
- Recovery of defaulted and even written-off debts within the Kingdom.
- A results-based model: no additional fees if the debt is not collected.
You can order the service directly from our shop: debt collection for companies and individuals. If the debt requires a lawsuit, we provide representation at Commercial Court hearings. To start with a legal opinion on your situation, book a phone legal consultation or an in-office consultation.
Frequently asked questions about debt collection
Can a debtor be jailed for unpaid debts under the new Enforcement Law?
No. Under the new Enforcement Law in force since 28 October 2026, Article 37 limits detention to direct-enforcement cases (performing or refraining from an act) after 30 working days of enforcement measures. For money debts, the tools are asset attachment, asset tracing, disclosure and travel bans.
Can I enforce a cheque directly without filing a lawsuit?
Yes, as a rule. A cheque is an enforcement instrument under Article 7 of the Enforcement Law, so you can file an enforcement request directly through Najiz. Bills of exchange and promissory notes, however, must be registered on the national electronic platforms to qualify as enforcement instruments under the new law.
How long does the debtor have to pay after being notified?
Five working days from notification of the enforcement order under Article 18. After that, compulsory enforcement against the debtor's assets begins immediately, unless the debtor provides a sufficient bank guarantee, which buys ten additional working days.
What if I have no cheque, promissory note or judgment?
If the debt is based on invoices or an unnotarized contract, you need a judgment first. Start with a formal demand and written notice, then file a claim with the Commercial Court or the competent court through Najiz. Once the judgment is final, move to the Enforcement Court.
Can I lose my right if I wait too long?
Enforcement requests are not accepted on instruments that fell due more than ten years earlier (Article 11 of the Enforcement Law), and commercial claims are not heard after five years from the date the right arose unless the defendant acknowledges it or the claimant presents an excuse the court accepts (Article 24 of the Commercial Courts Law).
Start collecting your debt today
Send us the type of debt and the documents you hold, and we will tell you the fastest route: direct enforcement or a lawsuit.
info@novalegal.sa | Al-Sahaba Road, Ishbilia, Riyadh
Conclusion
Under the new Enforcement Law, debt collection in Saudi Arabia comes down to one question: do you hold an enforcement instrument or not? If you do, the route is short, through Najiz and the Enforcement Court. If not, you need a judgment first, then enforcement. Either way, time matters and documentation matters even more. The Nova Legal team in Riyadh is ready to handle your file from the first demand through to collection. Address: Al-Sahaba Road, Ishbilia, Riyadh – Building 2/2, Al-Hamra City, 2nd floor, Office 202.