A dispute dragging on? Resolve it with a binding award, online
Whether your dispute is with a supplier, a contractor, a client or a partner, HIKMAH can resolve it. At this ad hoc arbitration office, independent arbitrators handle all types of arbitration, as a sole arbitrator or a three-member tribunal, fully online on the Tahakom platform, and on our expedited track the award is issued within 30 days. Our arbitrators meet the qualification requirements of the Saudi Arbitration Law.
- Free estimate, no commitment
- Strictly confidential
- Reply within one business day
بالحكمة نحكم.. وبالعدل نفصلWith wisdom we decide. With fairness we resolve.
Which best describes you?
In a dispute?
You or your company are in a dispute with a supplier, contractor, client or partner, and you want it resolved with a binding award.
- Small claims with the fee set upfront
- Expedited track: an award within 30 days
- Expedited, documents only: no hearings and 20% off
- Standard track for larger disputes
A lawyer or arbitrator?
You represent a client in a dispute, or you sit on a tribunal that needs a qualified arbitrator.
- Arbitrator appointment: sole, presiding or party-appointed
- Partnership with law firms
Your whole case runs on Tahakom
No travel and no need to attend in person: every step of the case, from the request to the award, happens online on the Tahakom platform.
- Filing the request and exchanging submissions and documents
- Remote hearings, including witnesses and experts
- Notifications, deadlines and hearing minutes
- Issuing the award and delivering it to the parties
The Tahakom platform
Tahakom is an online platform, separate from HIKMAH, on which our arbitrators run the proceedings. To learn more about the platform or contact the Tahakom team directly, visit their website: tahakompltf.com.sa
Visit TahakomWe decide disputes. We don't represent either side.
Put simply, this is how an arbitrator differs from a lawyer:
An independent decision-maker whom both parties agree to appoint to resolve their dispute with a binding award. An arbitrator does not act for either side.
Arbitration is not a second-best alternative to going to court. It is a legally recognized route for parties who want their dispute resolved quickly and privately.
Independent arbitrators who decide the dispute between you and the other party and issue a binding award.
Lawyers acting for one side, or an institutional arbitration center.
Faster and more affordable, with no middleman
Why parties choose ad hoc arbitration over an arbitration center.
| Arbitration centers | Ad hoc with HIKMAH | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Administrative fees on top of the arbitrators' fees | One all-inclusive price, 15% lower, and 20% off when the case is decided on documents only |
| Timeline | Often several months, under the center's rules | 30 days for small claims and on the expedited track |
| Procedure | Set by the center's rules | Flexible, agreed between the parties and the tribunal |
| Confidentiality | The institution also has access to the file | Shared only between the parties, the tribunal and its secretary, under written confidentiality |
| Choice of arbitrators | From the center's panel, or appointed by the center | Agreed by the parties from among the office's arbitrators; for a three-member tribunal, they authorize the chair to choose the other two |
| Hearings | Usually in person | Fully online on the Tahakom platform, or no hearings at all when the case is decided on documents |
Ad hoc arbitration is fully recognized by law, and it does not need an arbitration center to be valid. It is simply a faster, more affordable way to resolve your dispute out of court.
Why HIKMAH
Qualified arbitrators
Accredited arbitration certifications, meeting the requirements of the Saudi Arbitration Law.
One or three arbitrators
On the expedited and standard tracks, as the parties agree. A three-member tribunal deliberates and decides by majority.
Documented impartiality
Every arbitrator makes a written disclosure before accepting the appointment.
A fixed timetable
30 days on the expedited track, with a set date for every step.
Fully online
Every stage runs on the Tahakom platform: no travel and no paperwork, saving both time and cost.
Transparent fees
A free estimate before you start, fees agreed in writing, set installments, and every payment documented.
The HIKMAH arbitration office
HIKMAH is an ad hoc arbitration office founded by arbitrator Haya Bin Mugayel, where independent arbitrators with accredited certifications work and are chosen by the parties' agreement. The office does not appoint arbitrators on the parties' behalf. We handle all types of arbitration, fully online.
- On the expedited and standard tracks, the tribunal is a sole arbitrator or three arbitrators, as the parties agree. Small claims are always heard by a sole arbitrator. For a three-member tribunal, the parties agree on the chair from among the office's arbitrators and authorize the chair to choose the other two members, with their details disclosed and a right to object.
- We are appointed only under the parties' arbitration agreement and with their consent.
- Every stage runs on the Tahakom online platform: written submissions, hearings, witness and expert evidence, deliberations and the award.
Impartiality
Every arbitrator is independent and discloses any potential conflict of interest in writing before accepting a case.
Confidentiality
Proceedings, documents, deliberations and awards remain confidential.
Speed
Clear timetables and procedures keep the case moving.
Excellence
Strong academic and professional credentials.
Frequently asked questions
Are you lawyers?
No. We are independent arbitrators: we decide the dispute and issue a binding award, and we don't represent either side.
Is ad hoc arbitration recognized, and is the award binding?
Yes. The Saudi Arbitration Law allows parties to agree on arbitration and appoint arbitrators directly, without an arbitration center. The award is binding on both parties and enforceable under the applicable laws.
What's the difference between small claims and the expedited track?
Small claims is for disputes under SAR 200,000 that rest mainly on documents: a sole arbitrator decides on the documents, or with one remote hearing if needed, for a fee set upfront. The expedited track is for disputes under SAR 5 million, with an award within 30 days and one or three arbitrators.
What is a consent award?
If the parties reach a settlement during the arbitration, the tribunal records its terms in a decision that is enforceable like an arbitral award. If one side later fails to honor the settlement, it can be enforced directly.
What if my contract has no arbitration clause?
The parties can still agree to arbitrate after a dispute arises, and we can draft the arbitration agreement for both of them together. Learn more about this service.
What if the other party refuses arbitration?
If your contract has an arbitration clause, it binds both parties, and the law sets out what happens if one side refuses to take part. If there is no clause, arbitration needs both parties to agree.
How much will my case cost?
Fees are a percentage of the amount in dispute that falls as the amount grows, and depend on the number of arbitrators. You pay one all-inclusive price, 15% lower than arbitration centers, paid in installments once the appointment is agreed. Send us your details on Get a fee estimate and we will reply within one business day.
How long does a case take?
For small claims and on the expedited track, 30 days from the tribunal accepting its appointment. On the standard track, the tribunal sets the timetable in its first procedural order.
Are hearings held in person?
No. Every stage of the case runs on the Tahakom online platform, and minutes are kept of each hearing. To learn more about the platform or contact it: tahakompltf.com.sa
Do I choose the arbitrators?
The parties decide together, under their arbitration agreement, and nothing begins without both parties' consent.
How are you different from an arbitration center?
We are ad hoc arbitrators: we decide the dispute directly under the parties' arbitration agreement, with no arbitration center administering the case, at one all-inclusive price. Arbitration centers, such as the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA), administer cases under their own rules and charge their own fees on top of the arbitrators' fees.
Do I need a lawyer?
No. You may appoint a lawyer or another representative, but you don't have to.
Is what I submit kept confidential?
Yes. Documents and deliberations are confidential, and the award is published only if both parties agree.
Ready to resolve your dispute?
Send us the details and we will reply with a fee estimate and the right track within one business day, free and with no commitment.
Two ways to appoint us
In your contracts: provide for ad hoc arbitration in your arbitration clause from the outset.
In an existing dispute: agree with the other party to appoint us. If your contract has no arbitration clause, we can draft the arbitration agreement for both of you.
We are appointed only under the parties' arbitration agreement and with their consent.
What to have ready:
- Your arbitration agreement or arbitration clause, if you have one.
- Contact details for both parties and their representatives.
- What the dispute is about and the amount involved, so we can confirm the right track.
- The key documents in the case.