Toward the Development of the Regulatory Framework of Legislative Drafting and Law-Making Process in Saudi Arabia

Abstract The legislative drafting process has recently undergone dramatic changes in Saudi Arabia. This development was motivated by the country’s desire to create a more transparent, efficient, and effective legal system. Despite the advancements achieved in legislative drafting, there remain significant challenges that impede the quality of proposed legislation in the country. This article aims to contribute to the evolution of the regulatory framework governing the legislative drafting and law-making process. It embarks on a comprehensive examination of the existing legislative drafting mechanisms, highlighting the need for further improvement in the regulatory framework of legislative drafting to improve the efficiency and clarity of legislation. Furthermore, the article elucidates the complexities and challenges associated with drafting effective laws within the legal system and clarifies the pivotal function of manual drafting and regulatory impact assessments in augmenting the effectiveness and quality of enacted laws. This article concludes with various recommendations such as the need to launch a drafting manual and systematic approach to regulatory impact assessment which can strengthen the evidence base for the development and review of proposed and existing legislation. This article is expected to serve as a cornerstone for similar studies in other jurisdictions within the Middle East.