The Ministry of Justice has digitized more than 63 million real estate documents as part of the digitization initiative Real Estate Wealth—one of the Ministry of Justice’s initiatives under the National Transformation Program—through the Central Digitization Labs.
Steps in the Digitization of Documents
The Ministry explained that the digitization process involves a series of steps, beginning at the courts and notary offices, where documents are inventoried and collected, and data is entered and verified, followed by preparing the documents for transfer to central digitization labs for sterilization, restoration, scanning, archiving, and quality control. Marriage contracts are also authenticated instantly.
In 2021, the Ministry of Justice issued more than four million powers of attorney electronically through the “Najiz” portal, using simple steps and in a short amount of time.
Entry into Force of the Notarization System and Its Implementing Regulations
The Notarization Sector at the Ministry of Justice distinguished itself in 2021 by offering a wide range of services through legislative developments that began early last year with the entry into force of the Notarization Law and its implementing regulations, which govern notarization procedures in a manner that ensures their enforceability, as instruments and contracts notarized in accordance with the provisions of the system are considered enforceable instruments with respect to the obligations they contain, which has strengthened the Notarization System and real estate security, while also reinforcing the principle of the reliability of instruments and safeguarding rights through the notarization of contracts, in addition to involving the private sector in notarization processes.
Transfer of Certain Jurisdictions from the Courts to Notary Offices
The notarization system included the transfer of a number of jurisdictions from the courts to notary offices, which has contributed to improving the beneficiary’s experience and increasing satisfaction with notarial services by providing digital notarial services that encompass all administrative and IT operations supporting the notarial system, and by delivering notarial services electronically without requiring beneficiaries to visit , in addition to stimulating economic growth by adding high-quality services, strengthening real estate security, and enhancing partnership levels with the private sector.
20 licensed local and foreign banks
The Ministry of Justice has made the electronic discharge service available through additional banks, bringing the total to 20 local and foreign banks licensed by the Saudi Central Bank. The list of banks includes Al-Bilad Bank, Riyad Bank, Saudi British Bank, Al-Jazira Bank, Saudi Investment Bank, Arab National Bank, Saudi French Bank, Al-Inmaa Bank, Al-Rajhi Bank, Al-Ahli Bank, and Samba "currently known as Al-Ahli Saudi Bank," Kuwait National Bank, Muscat Bank, Bahrain Bank, Qatar Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, BNP Paribas, Gulf International Bank, J.P. Morgan, and TC Ziraat Bankasi, in cooperation with the Saudi Central Bank.
Elimination of the Requirement to Issue the First Power of Attorney In Person at Notary Offices
The Ministry confirmed that Dr. Walid bin Mohammed Al-Samaani, Minister of Justice, had directed the elimination of the requirement to issue the first power of attorney in person at a notary office, making it available through the "Najiz" electronic portal, which has contributed to an increase in the number of beneficiaries of the service, explaining that making the service available online is part of its efforts to fully digitize notarial services without requiring beneficiaries to visit a notary public office, with the aim of simplifying procedures for them and improving operational efficiency and performance.
Four Electronic Mortgage Services
The Ministry of Justice has launched four electronic mortgage services that enable beneficiaries to register and release mortgages without visiting a notary public, in addition to a service for instantly checking the status of a mortgage online and a service that displays the beneficiary’s mortgages in their account via the "Najiz" portal.
In 2021, the Ministry launched a package of electronic services related to mortgages in collaboration with government funds, including the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, in support of and to implement the Ministry’s National Transformation Program and to contribute to achieving integration between the Ministry and supporting entities to realize the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Beneficiaries can access these services through the "Najiz" electronic portal.
