Service of Judicial Documents in Saudi Arabia
There are two ways to serve in Saudi Arabia: by a private agent or by a letter rogatory. If enforcement of a judgment in Saudi Arabia is anticipated, service via letter rogatory is the recommended method. However, the use of this method of service is dependent upon good diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. at the time service is requested. Although service by private agent (usually an attorney) is available, it is wise to keep in mind that a judgment obtained on the basis of private agent service may be ruled invalid and not enforceable in Saudi Arabia.
For a private agent to serve the documents, we need an accurate address, the service fee, your written authorization to effect private agent service after being informed of the possible consequences, and one set of documents to be served. The average service fee is $995 to $1,200 for areas such as Mecca (Kakkah) and Riyadh (Ar-Riyad) and is dependent upon location and difficulty. There are many areas where travel is often difficult. A general quote can be obtained for service at a specific address. The proof of service will be in the form of a notarized affidavit, and the complete turnaround time is usually 3 weeks but can take longer. Rush service is available for an additional fee. Additional fees may be incurred if the affidavit must be notarized at a US Embassy.
Service via letter rogatory is a formal Request For International Judicial Assistance executed by the judicial authorities in Saudi Arabia. For us to prepare the letter rogatory, we require the following:

  1. A complete copy of each of the documents to be served;
  2. Full name of the judge who will be signing the letter rogatory request;
  3. Full name, address, and phone number of the originating court;
  4. Full name, address, and phone number of the entity to be served;
  5. Our fee of $465 to prepare the documents and facilitate the service;
  6. Translation fees, for the mandatory translation to Arabic, if we provide translation. Our fees are $75 per page, double spaced and typed. Small print and other documents are priced upon viewing;
  7. A cashier's check in the amount of $650 made payable to "U.S. Embassy - Saudi Arabia" (this is the State Department's requirement to be applied to costs incurred).

This method can often take 6 to 12 months or more to complete. As with all formal services effected through our office, an affidavit will be provided indicating that formal service has been initiated, that we are in compliance with any applicable statutes, and the reasonably expected time frame. This can be used to support a motion to extend, which is usually necessary, and is provided at no additional cost. When effecting service via letter rogatory, it is often recommended that service also be personally effected by an agent. This will provide a notarized affidavit of personal service that can be filed with the court while the formal method of service is in progress.
Once the documents leave the United States, the Ministry of Justice in Saudi Arabia will have complete jurisdiction over the service and generally does not respond to requests for status. We will, however, follow the progress of the service as closely as possible.
Call 1-800 SERVE EM (737-8336) for a free, no-obligation quote.

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