The technology and legal communities eagerly await Tuesday, January 20, 2026, when the Board of Grievances will close registration for the “Judicial Intelligence” hackathon, the first event of its kind globally in the field of judicial service development. This initiative is a strategic step to attract creative minds and innovative ideas, aiming to utilize artificial intelligence technologies to enhance judicial work and improve the experience of beneficiaries across all categories.
The context of digital transformation and smart justice
This hackathon is not an isolated event, but rather the culmination of a long journey of digital transformation underway in Saudi Arabia as part of its Vision 2030 goals. The judicial system, specifically the Board of Grievances, has made significant strides in transitioning from paper-based transactions to fully electronic litigation. This hackathon takes the challenge to a new level, moving from mere "automation" to "intelligence," by exploring solutions that leverage big data and machine learning to support judicial decision-making and reduce litigation timelines.
Record turnout and high-quality pathways
The registration period, which began on December 28th, witnessed an overwhelming response from participating teams, exceeding expectations from the very first week. The supervising team established precise criteria to ensure the quality of the outputs, with teams consisting of three to five members, including academics, technical specialists, and university students. Participants compete in two main tracks:
- The first track focuses on developing judicial work, and aims to create solutions that speed up litigation procedures, reduce procedural errors, and support judges in analyzing cases.
- The second track: It is concerned with improving the beneficiary experience, with a special focus on facilitating the use of digital platforms for the elderly and people with special needs, to ensure that everyone has easy and convenient access to justice.
Expected impact and timeline
This event holds regional and international significance as it positions the Kingdom among the leading nations in the field of LegalTech. The ideas generated by the hackathon are expected to contribute to resolving real challenges facing administrative courts, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the justice system and improving performance indicators.
The Board of Grievances has set January 23, 2026, as the date for announcing the teams that have qualified for the final stage, with project presentations and discussions to be held remotely on January 28. This approach reflects the Board of Grievances leadership's belief that collaborative innovation is the optimal path to achieving global leadership in administrative justice.
