Technology is considered one of the most important pillars of development, and the judicial sector in the Kingdom has done well to adapt to it.
As Riyadh hosts the International Conference on Justice, we will shed light on some prominent technical development within the Saudi judiciary, which has enabled it to keep up with innovations in other developed countries.
The first is the Najiz platform, considered a major achievement in the judicial sector. With it, certain forms of litigation can be fully conducted electronically — saving time, effort and endless paperwork.
A user can submit requests, follow up the case and even object to results if they wish, all online.
The user-friendly website is a person’s go-to guide on every judicial matter, such as lawsuits, power of attorneys, authorizations, real estate procedures, deeds and property documentations among others. But they are just a small part of Najiz.
Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani launched the paperless court project with the aim of saving time, effort, and money for all, in addition to raising technical efficiency of the courts and judges.
Paperless transactions and procedures are not limited to the Ministry of Justice. The ministries of interior, commerce and investment have also shortened procedures through the use of technology.
SIMAH, a credit information agency that collects, analyzes, and provides detailed and up-to-date credit information on both individuals and institutions in the Kingdom, can provide reports within 48 hours instead of its 60-day wait time.
The Ministry of Justice meanwhile has opened up 16 courts and 92 specialized circuits in the Kingdom to new electronic procedures relating to appellate, enforcement, general, penal, or personal cases.
This has shortened the average case time by around 30 days as the cases quickly move electronically between first degree courts and the courts of appeal.
• Dimah Talal Al-Sharif is a Saudi legal consultant, head of the health law department at the law firm of Majed Garoub, and a member of the International Association of Lawyers. Twitter: @dimah_alsharif
