Younes & Associates

Navigating the employment and labor landscape in Saudi Arabia requires an intricate understanding of local laws, regulations, and customs. Whether you are an employer looking to ensure compliance with the Kingdom's ever-evolving labor laws or an employee seeking to understand your rights, our team is poised to assist you.

Advisory Services

• Regulatory Compliance: Offering guidance on Saudi labor laws, including Saudization, and ensuring that businesses comply with the latest regulations.
• Employee Handbooks & Policies: Crafting and revising employee manuals and workplace policies to reflect the Kingdom’s legal standards and best practices.
• Risk Management: Assessing potential risks in employment practices and offering strategies to mitigate them.

Contractual Services

•  Employment Contracts: Drafting, reviewing, and revising employment contracts that protect the interests of both employers and employees.
• Expatriate Agreements: Creating employment agreements tailored for foreign employees, including considerations for end-of-service benefits and repatriation.

Dispute Resolution

• Mediation: Assisting in resolving workplace conflicts through structured mediation sessions.
• Litigation: Representing clients in employment disputes before relevant judicial bodies, including labor courts.

Training and Development

• Legal Workshops: Organizing workshops for HR professionals and management on updates and best practices in Saudi labor law.
•  Employee Rights Education: Providing sessions for employees to understand their rights and responsibilities under Saudi labor laws.

Employee Relations & Welfare

• End-of-Service Benefits: Advising on the calculation and provision of end-of-service benefits.
• Workplace Safety & Health: Offering guidance on maintaining a workplace that complies with Saudi health and safety regulations

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Transfers

• Employee Transitions: Advising on the legal implications and procedures related to the transfer or termination of employees during business mergers or acquisitions.

Immigration and Mobility

•  Work Permits and Visas: Assisting in obtaining and renewing work permits, residence visas, and related documents for expatriate employees.

Saudization and Nitaqat Program Guidance

• Advising businesses on meeting Saudization targets and navigating the complexities of the Nitaqat program.

At Younes & Associates, we pride ourselves on our holistic approach to employment and labor law, ensuring that both employers and employees are equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to foster a harmonious and legally compliant workplace in Saudi Arabia.

The business environment in Saudi Arabia is unique, shaped by a combination of traditional customs, Islamic laws, and modern regulations. Our team is adept at guiding businesses through the legal intricacies of establishing and operating within the Kingdom.

Business Formation and Structuring

•  Company Types: Advising on the appropriate business entity, whether it's a Limited Liability Company (LLC), Joint Stock Company, or a partnership.
•  Foreign Investment: Guiding foreign investors through the MISA (Ministry of Investment) process for obtaining required licenses.
•  Joint Ventures: Structuring joint ventures between local and foreign entities, ensuring legal protection and benefits for all parties.

Commercial Transactions

•  Contract Drafting & Negotiation: Preparing and reviewing contracts for various business transactions, ensuring they align with Saudi laws and best practices.
•  Trade: Assisting in navigating import and export regulations, securing permits, and understanding customs duties.

Intellectual Property

•  Trademarks & Patents: Advising on trademark and patent registration, protection, and infringement issues in Saudi Arabia.
•  Licensing & Franchising: Assisting in setting up licensing and franchising agreements within the Kingdom.

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Due Diligence: Conducting comprehensive reviews of target entities, assessing risks, and ensuring value.
• Regulatory Approvals: Navigating the regulatory landscape for business mergers and acquisitions.

Regulatory Compliance

•  Business Licensing: Securing and renewing business licenses and permits as per Saudi regulations.
•  Antitrust & Competition: Providing guidance on competition laws and ensuring businesses avoid anti-competitive practices.

Real Estate & Property Law

• Acquisition & Leasing: Advising on purchasing and leasing commercial properties, understanding property rights, and ensuring smooth transactions.
• Zoning & Land Use: Assisting businesses with zoning regulations and land use rights.

Taxation & Finance

• Tax Advisory: Offering guidance on the Saudi tax regime, including VAT, customs duties, and corporate taxes.
• Banking & Finance: Assisting businesses in understanding and complying with Saudi banking regulations and securing finance.

Dispute Resolution

• Litigation: Representing businesses in commercial disputes before relevant judicial bodies.
• Arbitration: Offering arbitration services as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

Labor & Employment (In relation to businesses)

• Hiring Practices: Advising businesses on hiring best practices and understanding labor laws, including Saudization targets.
• Employee Contracts: Drafting, reviewing, and revising employment contracts in line with Saudi labor laws.

We are committed to facilitating businesses' journey in Saudi Arabia, ensuring that they can focus on growth while we handle the legal intricacies. We're here to be your trusted partner in navigating the vibrant business landscape of the Kingdom.

Legal disputes in Saudi Arabia are primarily handled within the framework of Islamic Sharia law, complemented by modern regulations. When embarking on litigation or any form of dispute resolution in the Kingdom, it's essential to understand the local legal system. Here's an overview:

Jurisdiction

• General Courts: Handle civil, criminal, and family cases.
• Administrative Courts: Address disputes involving government agencies and decisions.
• Commercial Courts: Specialized for business-related disputes.
• Labor Courts: Resolve disputes between employers and employees.

Commencement of Lawsuits

• Filing a Complaint: The process begins with the aggrieved party filing a complaint with the competent court.
• Summons: The defendant is notified of the lawsuit and given a specified time to respond.

Arbitration

• Alternative to Litigation: Saudi Arabia recognizes arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism. Parties can mutually agree to resolve their differences through arbitration.
• Enforcement: The Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) and other bodies facilitate the arbitration process. Arbitration decisions can be enforced in Saudi courts.

Evidence

• Documentation: Written documents play a crucial role in litigation. Notarized and authenticated documents carry significant weight.
• Witness Testimony: Witnesses can be called, though their testimony might carry different weight based on the nature of the case and the evidence presented.

Judgments

• Enforcement: Once a judgment is rendered, the prevailing party can seek its enforcement through the Execution Court.
• Appeals: Parties can appeal judgments. The appeals process varies based on the type of case and the court involved.

Execution Proceedings

• Asset Freezing: If a defendant fails to adhere to a judgment, the Execution Court can freeze their assets.
• Debt Recovery: The court can oversee the process of recovering debts or financial dues.

Mediation

• Encouraged Approach: Saudi Arabia encourages mediation to resolve disputes amicably. Several centers and legal entities provide mediation services.
• Binding Decisions: If both parties agree to the mediator's decision, it can be binding.

International Disputes

• Recognition of Foreign Judgments: Saudi courts can recognize and enforce foreign judgments, provided they don't contradict Islamic Sharia law.
• Bilateral Treaties: Saudi Arabia has agreements with several countries for mutual legal assistance and recognition.

Limitation Periods

• Statute of Limitations: Depending on the nature of the dispute, there are specific periods after which one cannot initiate a lawsuit. It's essential to be aware of these limitations.

We have extensive experience in guiding individuals and corporations through the maze of litigation and dispute resolution in Saudi Arabia. Our in-depth understanding of local customs, combined with our legal prowess, ensures that our clients are well-represented in any legal battle within the Kingdom.