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Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek hosted Saudi Justice Minister Dr. Walid bin Muhammad Al-Samaani in Ankara for in-depth discussions on judicial matters. Gürlek highlighted the longstanding ties between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, pointing to their shared heritage and common approach to governance where justice stands as a core value. “Justice is the religion of the state,” he said, while linking the conversation to the strategic visions guiding both nations, including Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Türkiye’s Century of Türkiye Vision, which both elevate the justice sector as a pillar of progress.
The Turkish side detailed its own judicial transformation efforts aimed at making the system faster, more transparent and widely accessible to citizens. These reforms have centered on digital tools such as the UYAP integrated case management system, along with greater use of alternative dispute resolution and advanced technologies including artificial intelligence for case handling and cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data. Gürlek offered to share Türkiye’s accumulated experience in these domains with the Saudi delegation and proposed expanding practical cooperation through regular expert exchanges and study visits.
According to details released after the meeting, the two ministers reviewed mechanisms for implementing a memorandum of understanding that their ministries had signed in previous years. They explored additional avenues for partnership covering judicial training, the exchange of best practices, professional development programs and ways to refine court procedures and services for greater efficiency. The discussions also touched on knowledge sharing initiatives that could benefit judges, prosecutors and administrative staff in both countries.
Dr. Al-Samaani took the opportunity to visit Türkiye’s Constitutional Court, where he held a separate meeting with President Kadir Özkaya. During the tour, Özkaya provided a comprehensive overview of the court’s mandate, its role in the Turkish legal system and its day-to-day operations. The visit formed part of a broader effort to foster institutional understanding between the judicial bodies of Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Al-Samaani heads Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Judicial Council in addition to his ministerial duties, giving him a central position in the kingdom’s legal reforms. Saudipedia profiles outline his long-standing involvement in developing judicial education programs, including curricula for the High Judicial Institute at Imam Mohammed Bin Saud Islamic University. His background also includes work on international legal cooperation models, which informed his contributions to the talks with Gürlek.
Both ministers stressed the value of continued coordination to advance cooperation in areas of shared interest, the Turkish Justice Ministry reported. The two sides agreed to maintain momentum through increased delegation visits and direct expert contacts. This engagement builds on a pattern of high-level judicial dialogue between the two countries.
