Minister of Justice: 660,000 court sessions conducted remotely
His Excellency the Minister of Justice, Dr. Walid bin Mohammed Al-Samaani, affirmed the remarkable development witnessed by the judicial system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, announcing an exceptional achievement: the conduct of more than 660,000 remote court sessions. This significant number reflects an advanced stage of institutional judicial maturity, which has directly contributed to raising the efficiency of judicial performance, enhancing the quality of judgments, and consolidating their stability in a way that serves the aspirations of society.
Digital transformation at the Ministry of Justice: A journey of development
This achievement was not a sudden occurrence, but rather the culmination of a long journey of digital transformation undertaken by the Saudi Ministry of Justice since the launch of Vision 2030. Historically, judicial procedures required in-person attendance and time-consuming, paper-based transactions. However, with the launch of initiatives to digitize the judiciary, such as the Najiz electronic portal, the Ministry began gradually automating judicial services. This strategic approach is based on the integration of legislation, procedures, and technological enablers, resulting in clearer and more consistent justice and enhanced predictability of rulings. This historic development has contributed to reducing the duration of litigation and increasing the predictability of rulings to approximately 70%.
Efficiency of the electronic litigation and judgment issuance system
This institutional maturity has been clearly reflected in the entire litigation system. In addition to numerous digital services, e-litigation services saw the issuance of over 255,000 electronic judgments during the first quarter of the year, reflecting procedural efficiency and speed of execution. In this context, the Case Preparation Center is a key enabler of this maturity; its specialized legal expertise has contributed to the execution of over 380,000 cases, a significant increase of 39% compared to the previous year. This is achieved through preparing preliminary case studies, drafting applications, and providing necessary support to judges throughout the litigation process.
The overall impact of activating remote judicial sessions locally and internationally
The implementation of remote court sessions is of paramount importance and has far-reaching implications. Locally, it facilitates access to justice for citizens and residents without the burden of travel or waiting, thus supporting social and economic stability. Regionally and internationally, this achievement solidifies the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's position as a leading model in leveraging technology to serve the justice sector, thereby enhancing foreign investors' confidence in the Saudi legal environment thanks to the speed and transparency of litigation and the protection of rights.
Anticipating the future and relying on artificial intelligence
In closing, the Minister of Justice emphasized that the Ministry is committed to developing its judicial system through a comprehensive institutional approach. This forward-looking strategy is based on the concept of preventative justice, maximizing the use of artificial intelligence technologies, and integrating roles within the system. All these efforts combine to enhance the reliability of judgments, improve procedural efficiency, and expand access to judicial services, ultimately leading to a more flexible and proactive system capable of keeping pace with societal development and supporting overall stability.
