Comparison
Read two legal systems against each other
Because every portal follows the same fifteen-section outline, the comparison is genuinely like-for-like rather than a collage of whatever each government happens to publish.
Select up to six documented jurisdictions
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| Attribute | MaltaReviewed | Saudi ArabiaReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal family | Mixed (civil and common law) | Islamic law |
| System of government | Unitary parliamentary republic | Unitary Islamic absolute monarchy |
| Constitution | Constitution of Malta | Basic Law of Governance |
| In force since | 1964 | 1992 |
| Capital | Valletta | Riyadh |
| Official languages | Maltese, English | Arabic |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) | Saudi riyal (SAR) |
| Population | 540,000 | 36,900,000 |
| Division of powers | A parliamentary republic with a ceremonial President, a Cabinet led by the Prime Minister answerable to the House of Representatives and an independent judiciary. | Unitary. Thirteen provinces headed by governors drawn from the royal family and appointed by the King, each with an appointed provincial council. No legislative competence exists below the national level. |
| How law is made | Bills are passed by the House of Representatives and assented to by the President before publication in the Government Gazette. | There is no legislature with power to enact law. Proposals originate in ministries or the Shura Council, are considered by the Council of Ministers, and take effect as royal decrees signed by the King and published in Umm al-Qura. The Shura Council may study and recommend but its resolutions require royal approval, and the King may legislate without consulting it. |
| Legal profession | Advocates are admitted to the bar after a law degree and warrant; legal procurators and notaries handle procedural filing and authentication of deeds. | Advocates are licensed under the Code of Law Practice and must be Saudi nationals to appear in court, though licensed foreign firms may advise and now associate more freely following the 2024 opening. Judges are appointed from graduates of Sharia faculties by the Supreme Judicial Council and the King. Notarisation is a judicial function performed by notaries within the Ministry of Justice, and most commercial documentation must be executed in Arabic to be enforceable onshore. |
A comparison table flattens nuance by design. Where a difference matters to a decision you are making, open both portals and read the section in full — the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.