Minister of Justice: Establishment of judicial circuits to settle disputes in private housing contracts - Sarmad
The Minister of Justice revealed preparations for a law to establish specialized judicial circuits to hear disputes regarding private housing contracts, under the direction of the Prime Minister, aiming to expedite case resolutions and protect citizens' rights.
Translated by Qiyas from سرمد — Original source
Justice Minister, Advisor Nasser Al-Sumait, announced plans to draft legislation regulating the establishment of specialized judicial circuits to adjudicate disputes related to private housing construction contracts, under the direct guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah. The initiative aims to expedite case resolutions and protect the rights of citizens affected by stalled construction projects or contractors’ failure to fulfill their contractual obligations.
Al-Sumait confirmed that disputes concerning private housing construction contracts reached approximately 2,200 cases in 2025. He noted that the Ministry of Justice is currently preparing the necessary legislation to regulate this system, enabling more specialized and efficient handling of such cases.
He explained that the initiative includes assigning judges to hear private housing construction disputes, thereby accelerating litigation procedures and resolving conflicts within shorter timeframes. This is particularly important given that these cases directly impact citizens, their families’ stability, and their financial commitments.
The Justice Minister added that the project also involves establishing a specialized unit within the General Administration of Experts, assigning expert accountants and engineers to investigate court-referred matters related to these disputes. This will ensure faster completion of expert assessments with higher levels of specialization and accuracy, facilitating the completion of necessary procedures for case resolutions.
He clarified that the Ministry of Justice is developing the legal framework governing these procedures, including the establishment of specialized judicial circuits and mechanisms for engaging technical and accounting expertise to examine disputes. This lays the groundwork for improving the handling of residential construction cases and accelerating their resolution.
This step comes amid complaints regarding the halt of some residential construction projects or contractors’ failure to meet contractual obligations after receiving financial payments from plot owners, prompting affected parties to seek judicial recourse to recover their funds or claim compensation for damages.
Drafting this legislation represents a step toward developing mechanisms for handling residential construction disputes, supporting the protection of citizens’ rights, ensuring justice for the aggrieved, safeguarding the rights of contracting parties, and mitigating the financial and housing-related consequences of stalled residential construction projects.
