Right to Appeal Criminal Convictions in Saudi Arabia
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Saudi royal decrees, regulations, and ministerial decisions. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
If you are convicted of a crime, Saudi law provides a multi-layered appeal process — and for the most serious sentences, review is automatic, not optional:
- Appeal deadline: You must file your appeal within 30 days of receiving the written judgement.
- Court of Appeal: Criminal appeals go to the Court of Appeal (Appellate Court), which reviews both the facts and the law.
- Supreme Court auto-review: In cases involving death, amputation, or stoning, the case is automatically reviewed by the Supreme Court — no appeal filing is needed.
- Royal pardon: In some cases, the convicted person or their family may petition for a royal pardon — particularly in cases where the victim's family agrees to accept diyya (blood money) instead of execution.
- Stay of execution: Filing an appeal generally suspends the sentence until the appeal is decided.
- Najiz platform: Appeals can be filed and tracked through the Najiz platform (najiz.sa) — the digital system has significantly streamlined what was previously a paper-heavy process.
The appeal process is a critical safeguard — most serious sentences require multiple levels of judicial review before they become final.
When does it apply?
- You have been convicted of a crime by a Criminal Court.
- You believe the court made an error of law or fact in reaching its decision.
- The sentence is disproportionate to the offence.
What to Do If You Have Been Convicted of a Crime and Want to Appeal in Saudi Arabia
- Act quickly — file your appeal within the 30-day deadline from receiving the written judgement, using the Najiz platform.
- Hire an experienced Saudi criminal lawyer to draft your appeal — procedural errors can result in dismissal.
- Gather any new evidence or identify legal errors in the original trial.
- For serious sentences, confirm that the case is being automatically reviewed by the Supreme Court — your lawyer should verify this through Najiz.
- In capital cases, explore whether the victim's family is open to accepting diyya — this can commute a death sentence.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not miss the 30-day deadline — late appeals are generally rejected, and the conviction becomes final.
- Do not try to represent yourself in serious criminal appeals — the legal procedures and Sharia-based reasoning require specialist expertise.
- Do not assume the sentence is final after the first court — Saudi law provides for multiple levels of appeal and mandatory Supreme Court review for the most severe penalties.
Common Questions
When does it apply — right to appeal criminal convictions?
You have been convicted of a crime by a Criminal Court.You believe the court made an error of law or fact in reaching its decision.The sentence is disproportionate to the offence.
What should I do if I have been convicted of a crime and want to challenge the verdict in Saudi Arabia?
Act quickly — file your appeal within the 30-day deadline from receiving the written judgement, using the Najiz platform.Hire an experienced Saudi criminal lawyer to draft your appeal — procedural errors can result in dismissal.Gather any new evidence or identify legal errors in the original trial.For serious sentences, confirm that the case is being automatically reviewed by the Supreme Court — your lawyer should verify this through Najiz.In capital cases, explore whether the victim's family is open to accepting diyya — this can commute a death sentence.
What should you NOT do — right to appeal criminal convictions?
Do not miss the 30-day deadline — late appeals are generally rejected, and the conviction becomes final.Do not try to represent yourself in serious criminal appeals — the legal procedures and Sharia-based reasoning require specialist expertise.Do not assume the sentence is final after the first court — Saudi law provides for multiple levels of appeal and mandatory Supreme Court review for the most severe penalties.