Saudi Arabia has officially become the 16th member of the Arab Union of Administrative Judiciary after signing an accession agreement at the Egyptian State Council headquarters in Cairo, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The document was signed by Ali Alohaydib, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Board of Grievances and Administrative Judicial Council, and Mahmoud Abu El-Dahab, president of the Arab Union of Administrative Judiciary and head of Egypt’s State Council.
The ceremony was attended by a senior Saudi judicial delegation, Saudi Deputy Ambassador to Egypt Khalid Al-Shammari and high-ranking Egyptian State Council officials.
Alohaydib said Saudi Arabia’s accession reflected the growing regional and international standing of its administrative judiciary, alongside ongoing advances in judicial services, institutional development and digital transformation.
He noted that membership would provide opportunities to share the Board of Grievances’ experience with other Arab judicial institutions while encouraging the exchange of legal expertise, research and professional knowledge in administrative justice.
According to Alohaydib, the move also demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to expanding judicial partnerships, promoting best practices and showcasing its progress in institutional modernisation.
He added that joining the union would strengthen the visibility of Saudi Arabia’s administrative judiciary in regional and international forums, particularly in areas such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence applications and efforts to make judicial procedures more efficient.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the accession is expected to expand cooperation among Arab administrative judicial institutions and establish additional channels for sharing expertise and effective practices to improve judicial performance.
Alohaydib described the development as another step towards closer Arab cooperation, adding that Saudi Arabia intends to contribute further to judicial advancement and knowledge-sharing initiatives across the region.
He also expressed appreciation to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continued support of the Board of Grievances, stating that their backing had helped the institution achieve progress and strengthen its regional and international position.
Before the signing ceremony, Abu El-Dahab accompanied Alohaydib on a tour of the Egyptian State Council’s historic headquarters at Princess Fawkia Palace. The two officials also exchanged commemorative shields to mark Saudi Arabia’s accession.
Prior to the kingdom’s admission, the Arab Union of Administrative Judiciary consisted of 15 Arab judicial institutions specialising in administrative justice.
Saudi Arabia’s membership is expected to broaden the union’s partnership network and establish long-term cooperation between member institutions, supporting the exchange of legal expertise and the development of administrative justice across the Arab world.
