“Electronic services at the ministry will reach international standards,” he said after opening the new judicial complex in Jazan. “We have already achieved first place in the world in terms of expediting the transfer of real estate ownership,” he pointed out.

Al-Eissa said several international organizations have commended Saudi Arabia’s judicial performance and its efforts in applying Shariah law as well as its efficiency in establishing justice.

He said the ministry would support courts by appointing more judges after giving them proper training. “We’ll train about 500 judges in the next few days,” he pointed out.

Addressing the ceremony, the minister highlighted the progress achieved by the King Abdullah project by establishing new buildings with advanced facilities. “There are about 100 electronic services available on the ministry’s website,” he said.

The ceremony was attended by Ali Munqari, chief justice in Jazan, and Ali bin Shaiban Al-Amiri, head of the criminal court, and other judges and officials.

The justice minister emphasized the independence of the Kingdom’s judiciary. “We’ll give priority to the remaining judicial projects in Jazan.”

The court complex covers an area of 14,500 square meters and includes facilities for the general court, the criminal court and notary public.

There are three buildings with 28 judicial offices and support services, computer rooms, a room for records and archives and a room for out of the court settlements of disputes through mediation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Munqari commended the Saudi leadership for its support to the Kingdom’s judiciary. “The King Abdullah project has brought about a qualitative improvement in the judiciary.”

Meanwhile, the Supreme Judicial Council recently approved 49 training programs for judges all over the Kingdom, the largest training plan in 70 years.

According to Yassir Al-Balawi, judge in the general court of Tabuk and member of the committee for preparing training programs, each judge will attend between 18 and 25 training sessions annually under the plan.

He said the Justice Ministry would start implementing the plan during the coming few days with participation of a number of academics and specialists in judicial sciences and administration.

Al-Balawi said the plan would target judges at the courts of appeals, the summary, general and personal affairs courts as well as executive and judicial inspection judges and members of the Shariah committee at the Health Ministry.

He said the training programs would cover wide areas that would further qualify judges, including rules of compensation, judicial specialization, sentencing in absentia, writing reports, and using modern technology.