Umm Al-Qura Gazette · Law · Judicial Career Grades and Their Qualification Requirements · 2026
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King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud approved, under Royal Decree No. M/100, an amendment to the Judiciary Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/78 dated 19/9/1428H, concerning judicial career grades and their qualification requirements, after reviewing Shura Council Resolution No. (40/468) dated 15/1/1448H and Council of Ministers Resolution No. (296) dated 26/3/1448H, per the decree text published by the Umm Al-Qura Gazette (UQN) on 2026-09-25.
At a glance
- Issuing authority
- Umm Al-Qura Gazette (UQN)
- Instrument number
- M/100
- Gazette date
- September 25, 2026
- Scope
- Amendment of the Judiciary Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/78, concerning judicial career grades and their qualification requirements, under Royal Decree No. M/100.
What it requires
| Who | Obligation | By when |
|---|---|---|
| The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, ministers, and heads of concerned independent agencies | Implement the provisions of Royal Decree No. M/100, each within their own jurisdiction, per its text published in the Umm Al-Qura Gazette. | September 25, 2026 |
| Judiciary members holding or seeking appointment to judicial career grades | Become subject to the redefined list of judicial career grade titles, and to the amended service-duration, equivalent judicial-experience, teaching-experience, or academic-qualification conditions set for each grade. | September 25, 2026 |
| Candidates for appointment as an appellate judge or to other judicial career grades | Are subject to an amended age condition in the paragraph governing appointment age, under which the minimum age differs between appointment as an appellate judge and appointment to other judicial career grades. | September 25, 2026 |
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What does Royal Decree No. M/100 provide?
Royal Decree No. M/100 approved amendments to 10 provisions of the Judiciary Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/78 dated 19/9/1428H, covering the paragraph on the minimum age for appointment to judicial career grades, the article listing those grades, and the articles setting the conditions for holding each grade from Judge (B) up to President of the Court of Appeal.
Who is tasked with implementing this decree?
The decree tasks the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, ministers, and heads of concerned independent agencies with implementing its provisions, each within their own jurisdiction, after review of Shura Council Resolution No. (40/468) dated 15/1/1448H and Council of Ministers Resolution No. (296) dated 26/3/1448H; the Umm Al-Qura Gazette (UQN) published the decree text on 2026-09-25.
How did the decree amend the list of judicial career grades?
The decree restated the article listing judicial career grades as follows: Judicial Associate, Judge (C), Judge (B), Judge (A), Court President (B), Court President (A), Appellate Judge, Deputy of the Court of Appeal, Deputy President of the Court of Appeal, President of the Court of Appeal, and President of the Highest Court, with these grades to be held under the provisions of the Law.
What are the amended conditions for holding the higher judicial grades?
The decree amended the conditions for holding the grades from Judge (B) up to President of the Court of Appeal, tying promotion to a period of service in the grade below, or to equivalent judicial experience, or to teaching jurisprudence and its principles at a college in the Kingdom, or to an academic qualification such as a master's degree from the Higher Judicial Institute, a doctorate, or a diploma from the Institute of Public Administration, depending on the grade concerned; it also amended the age condition in the paragraph governing appointment, under which the minimum age now differs by the judicial grade targeted.
Frequently asked questions
What is Royal Decree No. M/100?
It is a Royal Decree under which King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud approved amendments to 10 provisions of the Judiciary Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/78 dated 19/9/1428H, concerning judicial career grades and their qualification requirements; the Umm Al-Qura Gazette (UQN) published its text on 2026-09-25.
What are the judicial career grades after the amendment?
Under the amended article, the judicial career grades are: Judicial Associate, Judge (C), Judge (B), Judge (A), Court President (B), Court President (A), Appellate Judge, Deputy of the Court of Appeal, Deputy President of the Court of Appeal, President of the Court of Appeal, and President of the Highest Court.
Who is tasked with implementing this decree?
The decree tasks the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, ministers, and heads of concerned independent agencies with implementing its provisions, each within their own jurisdiction, per the text published in the Umm Al-Qura Gazette (UQN).
Did the decree amend the age condition for appointment to the judiciary?
Yes, the decree amended the paragraph on the minimum age for appointment to judicial career grades, under which the minimum age now differs between appointment as an appellate judge and appointment to other judicial career grades.
Issuances referenced
Related briefings
Official sources
- Umm Al-Qura Gazette: Approval of Amendments to the Judiciary Law Regarding Judicial Career Grades and Their Qualification Requirements (Royal Decree M/100)
- Umm Al-Qura Gazette — Issuing authority — official website
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