On 26 January 2026, Mr Justice Saini of the English High Court granted summary judgment in the amount of GBP 3,025,662.83 to Ghanem Al-Mararir, a Saudi political dissident based on the UK, in his claims against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”).

Background

The claimant brought proceedings against the KSA seeking compensation for psychiatric harm he allegedly suffered as a result of discovery of alleged cyber espionage (phone hacking) as well as a physical attack in London allegedly carried out at the hands of the State.

Initially, the KSA pleaded State immunity.  On 19 August 2022, the High Court ruled that KSA was not entitled to immunity under the UK State Immunity Act 1978 (“SIA”).  The KSA was subsequently granted permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal, although the KSA later failed to comply with that Court’s order for security for costs.  The Court of Appeal therefore dismissed the KSA’s appeal and the Claimant subsequently brought his substantive claims before the High Court.

Court’s Decision

With the KSA not participating in proceedings, the Claimant successfully applied to the High Court for summary judgment, which found on the evidence before it that the KSA had no real prospect of successfully defending the claims against it.  The order demonstrates the risk faced by States when declining to participate in proceedings before the English courts.