Administrative Disputes Before the Board of Grievances: Grievance, Annulment, and Compensation
Administrative justice in Saudi Arabia is handled by the Board of Grievances through the administrative courts, the administrative courts of appeal, and the High Administrative Court. It hears claims to annul administrative decisions and for compensation, employment disputes in the public sector, and disputes over administrative contracts. We represent clients in Jeddah in these claims through Ahmed Al Shatiri, a licensed lawyer.
An administrative decision that has harmed you, a government body in breach of a contract, or an employment entitlement withheld: these disputes have their own courts and strict deadlines. We start with the grievance in its time, then the claim before the administrative court.
- Drafting the grievance in a form that counts
- Annulment and compensation claims before the administrative court
- Calculating the deadlines and recording them in writing
How an Administrative Dispute Runs
- Calculating deadlines from the date you learned of the decision
- The grievance before the issuing body
- The annulment and compensation claim
- Appeal and enforcement of the administrative judgment
What We Handle
Five routes before the Board of Grievances.
Grievance Against an Administrative Decision
- Drafting the grievance to the issuing body
- Following the response or the expiry of its period
Body: the administrative body that issued the decision
Annulment and Compensation Claims
- Annulling the administrative decision
- Compensation for the harm it caused
Body: the Administrative Court in Jeddah
Public Sector Employment Disputes
- Promotion and transfer
- Termination of service and entitlements
Body: the Administrative Court — for public sector employees
Administrative Contracts and Tenders
- Late payment by a government body or forfeiture of a guarantee
- Exclusion of a bid or an award decision
Body: the Administrative Court
Enforcing Administrative Judgments
- Following enforcement of a judgment against the body
Body: the Board of Grievances — Litigation and Enforcement
The Administrative Disputes We Handle
| Type | Example | Usual route |
|---|---|---|
| Individual administrative decision | Refusal of a licence, withdrawal of a licence, an administrative fine | Grievance, then a claim for annulment and compensation |
| Employment dispute | Termination of a public employee, denial of a promotion or allowance | A claim before the Administrative Court |
| Administrative contract | A government body late in paying, or forfeiting a guarantee | A demand, then a claim for compensation |
| Government tender | Exclusion of a bid or an award decision | A grievance within the period, then a claim |
Why Deadlines Matter So Much Here
An annulment claim is bound by a period calculated from when the person concerned learned of the decision, or from the expiry of the grievance period. The Board of Grievances provides an indicative calculator for annulment claim periods. We record the date of knowledge and of the grievance in writing from the first meeting, because missing the deadline defeats the claim however strong its merits.
The second common error in administrative cases is addressing the wrong body, or in the wrong form: a grievance sent to a department that is not competent, or a general complaint that does not meet the conditions of a grievance — so the period runs out while you wait for a response that will not count. We draft the grievance in the form that counts and document the date it was filed and received.
Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Shatiri
Lawyer Licensed by the Ministry of Justice
His professional record includes representation before the judicial bodies and quasi-judicial committees, and he handles administrative disputes before the Board of Grievances from the grievance through to enforcement of the judgment.
The Grievance
Drafted in the form that counts, with the date of filing and receipt documented.
The Claim
The annulment and compensation claim and advocacy before the Administrative Court.
Deadlines
Calculating the deadline for your file and recording it in writing from the first meeting.
How the Fee Is Set
The fee is set after reviewing the case file and defining the scope of work. We set the fee after reviewing the decision and the documents, in a written proposal separating the grievance stage, the claim stage, and the appeal stage. No work starts before the fee agreement is signed. Government claim fees, where they apply, are stated separately with their source.
Full Case Review and Written Legal Opinion
From SAR 900
A written assessment of your position before you instruct us.
What to Bring
These documents fix the deadline and the route precisely.
A copy of the decision or letter, the date you received it, and how you were notified.
Any grievance or correspondence you filed, and the body’s responses.
The contract or tender documents and the financial records if the dispute is contractual.
The employment file and appointment and promotion decisions for employment disputes.
Time is decisive in an administrative dispute: the sooner these documents reach us, the more options remain open.
Three Steps
01 — Send the Decision
A copy of the decision or letter and the date you received it.
02 — Calculating Deadlines
We calculate the deadlines and decide: a grievance first, or a claim straight away.
03 — Memoranda and Representation
We prepare the memoranda and represent you before the Administrative Court.
Common Questions About Administrative Disputes
Is a grievance a precondition to an annulment claim?
In many cases a grievance to the administrative body is required before an annulment claim is filed, and the Implementing Regulations of the Law of Procedure Before the Board of Grievances govern the grievance, its deadlines, and the effect of the body’s silence. We tell you precisely whether your case requires a grievance and when the claim period starts after it.
How long is the period for filing an annulment claim?
The period is calculated from the date of knowledge of the decision or from the expiry of the grievance period, depending on the case, and the Board of Grievances provides an indicative calculator for these periods. We do not state a general figure on a marketing page because the starting point differs from case to case; we calculate the deadline for your file and record it in writing.
Can the claim be filed electronically?
Yes, through the Board of Grievances electronic portal (Moeen). Hearings are scheduled and may be held remotely as the circuit directs. We prepare the claim and the documents and follow the case through to judgment, and keep you updated in writing so that no hearing date or document request takes you by surprise.
Do you handle private sector employment disputes?
Private sector disputes are labor matters heard by the Labor Court, not the Administrative Court, and we handle those within our labor service. Employment disputes before the Board of Grievances concern public sector employees.
Send Us the Decision Today
If you have an administrative decision you believe is unlawful, time is decisive. Send us a copy of the decision and the date you received it.
Official References
Annulment Claim Period Calculator
Board of Grievances — an indicative calculator for the periods for filing claims to annul administrative decisions
Implementing Regulations of the Law of Procedure Before the Board of Grievances
Board of Grievances