Insolvency and enforcement · Legal glossary
Enforcement instrument (writ)In Arabic: السند التنفيذي
Definition
An enforcement instrument (writ) is السند التنفيذي in Arabic: a document that can be enforced without a fresh claim, when it meets the conditions of the enforcement law.
How it varies across the GCC
Article 7 of the new Saudi Enforcement Law, with article 9 for a foreign instrument, lists final judgments, arbitral awards, notarised settlements, bills and notes registered on the national e-platforms, cheques, and notarised contracts and acknowledgements. It was issued by Royal Decree M/237 of 3/11/1447H, published on 1 May 2026, and it replaces the 1433H law. It comes into force 180 days after publication. The working count is 28 October 2026, and the exact day is under review. In the UAE, article 212 of Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 lists the enforcement instruments.
The rules that apply to a specific matter depend on the state, any free zone involved and the current text of the law, so check the official source before relying on them.
Basis by country
| Country | Basis |
|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022, article 212, lists the enforcement instruments. Whether a notarised acknowledgement is on that list is under review. |
| Saudi Arabia | New Enforcement Law, article 7: final judgments, arbitral awards, notarised settlements, bills and notes registered on the national e-platforms, cheques, and notarised contracts and acknowledgements. Foreign instruments: article 9. Royal Decree M/237 of 3/11/1447H, published 1 May 2026, replaces the 1433H law, in force 180 days after publication. The working count is 28 October 2026. The exact day is under review. |
| Bahrain | Under review |
| Qatar | Under review |
| Kuwait | Under review |
| Oman | Under review |
Sources
Official texts for the points on this page. General information, not legal advice. An article number is cited only where it was verified.
- Saudi Enforcement Law (Royal Decree M/237 of 1447H), art. 7, 9https://laws.boe.gov.sa/BoeLaws/Laws/LawDetails/67dd54bc-c33a-48c8-8356-b44700a9ab55/1
- UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022, art. 212https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/ar/legislations/1602