Article 38 of the Saudi Commercial Courts Law
المادة 38 من نظام المحاكم التجارية · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
The provisions of the evidence chapter apply to Commercial Court cases unless a special provision says otherwise; no special form is needed to prove an obligation, and parties may agree on evidence rules and shift the burden of proof.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- فيما لم يرد فيه نص خاص في الأنظمة التجارية، تسري أحكام هذا الفصل على إجراءات الإثبات في الدعاوى التي تختص بنظرها المحكمة.
2- لا يلزم لإثبات الالتزام شكل خاص، ما لم تتفق الأطراف على غير ذلك.
3- للمحكمة أن تعتدّ بإجراءات الإثبات التي جرت في دولة أجنبية ما لم تخالف أحكام النظام العام.
4- دون إخلال بالنظام العام، إذا اتفق الأطراف على قواعد محددة في الإثبات؛ فَتُعمِل المحكمة اتفاقَهم.
5- فيما لم يرد فيه نص خاص، يجوز الاتفاق على نقل عبء الإثبات.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 38 explained in plain English
This article sets out the general rules of evidence in cases within the jurisdiction of the commercial court, and contains five provisions:
- Scope of application: the provisions of this chapter apply to evidence procedures in these cases, where the commercial laws contain no special provision.
- No special form required: no special form is required to prove an obligation, unless the parties agree otherwise.
- Evidence taken abroad: the court may accept evidence procedures that took place in a foreign country, unless they violate public order.
- Party agreement on evidence rules: if the parties agree on specific rules of evidence, the court applies their agreement, without prejudice to public order.
- Shifting the burden of proof: the parties may agree to shift the burden of proof, where there is no special provision.
In practice, merchants can include clauses in their contracts that set the rules for proving obligations between them, or that state who bears the burden of proof, subject to the public order limit on agreeing evidence rules and the limit that no special provision may exist on shifting the burden of proof.
This article is connected to Article 39, which allows the court to depart, by a decision recorded in the hearing minutes, from evidence procedures it ordered, or not to rely on their result, provided it states its reasons. When drafting evidence clauses in contracts, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in commercial cases.
Practical example
Two companies in Khobar agreed in a supply contract that purchase orders between them would be proved through a specific electronic platform, and that the supplier would bear the burden of proving delivery. In a dispute, the commercial court applies their agreement on evidence rules as long as it does not violate public order, and shifting the burden of proof is valid unless a special provision says otherwise.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 38 of the Saudi Commercial Courts Law
Is a specific form required to prove a commercial obligation?
No special form is required to prove an obligation, unless the parties agree otherwise.
Can the contract include an agreement on evidence rules?
Yes. If the parties agree on specific rules of evidence, the court applies their agreement without prejudice to public order. They may also agree to shift the burden of proof where there is no special provision.
Will the commercial court accept evidence procedures carried out in a foreign country?
The court may accept evidence procedures that took place in a foreign country, unless they violate public order.
More articles on Evidence in a Commercial Case
- Article 39
The court may depart from evidence procedures it ordered, or not rely on their result, by a decision recorded in the hearing minutes, provided it states the reasons for departing.
للمحكمة أن تعدِل بقرار تثبته في محضر الجلسة عما أمرت به من إجراءات الإثبات، أو ألا تأخذ بنتيجة إجراء الإثبات، بشرط أن تبين أسباب ذلك العدول.
- Article 40
An admission is judicial if made before the court about a fact relating to the case during its hearing, preparation or the exchange of memoranda, and the court may infer it from written evidence submitted.
1- يعد الإقرار قضائيًّا إذا أقر أحد الأطراف أمام المحكمة بواقعة متعلقة بدعوى أثناء السير في نظرها. 2- يسري حكم الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة على أي إقرار تمّ أثناء إ
- Article 41
The commercial court assesses the weight of a non-judicial admission according to the means used to prove it.
للمحكمة تقدير حجية الإقرار غير القضائي بحسب الوسائل التي اتخذت لإثباته.
- Article 42
A party's statement in official papers is binding on that party unless the contrary is proved, and an ordinary paper is treated as issued by the person it is attributed to unless they expressly deny their handwriting, signature, seal or fingerprint.
1- يكون مضمون ما صرح به أي من الأطراف في الأوراق الرسمية حجة عليه، ما لم يثبت غير ذلك. 2- تعد الورقة العادية صادرة ممن نسبت إليه، ما لم ينكر صراحة ما هو منسوب إ
- Article 43
A copy of a document is treated as identical to its original unless an interested party disputes it; if disputed and comparison with the original is impossible, it may still be relied on as a presumption in four specified cases.
1- تُعَدُّ صورة المستند مطابقة لأصلها ما لم ينازع في ذلك أي من ذوي الشأن؛ فتجب مطابقتها على أصلها. 2- يجوز الاعتداد بصورة المستند التي نازع فيها أي من ذوي الشأن
- Article 44
Correspondence that is signed or proven to be attributable to its sender has the weight of an ordinary paper in evidence, unless the sender proves they did not send it and did not authorize anyone to send it.
تكون للمراسلات الموقع عليها أو الثابت نسبتها إلى مرسلها؛ حجية الورقة العادية في الإثبات، ما لم يثبت المرسل أنه لم يرسل الرسالة ولم يكلف أحداً بإرسالها.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.