Article 49 of the Saudi Commercial Courts Law
المادة 49 من نظام المحاكم التجارية · الفصل الرابع: الشهادة
The parties may submit testimony in writing, and before giving testimony the witness must disclose any relationship with the parties to the case that may affect it, or any interest the witness has in it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للأطراف تقديم الشهادة مكتوبة.
2- على الشاهد الإفصاح -قبل أدائه لشهادته- عن أي علاقة مؤثرة بأطراف الدعوى، أو أي مصلحة له فيها.
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 49 explained in plain English
This article contains two provisions on testimony before the commercial court:
First: written testimony. The parties may submit testimony in writing, so submitting testimony is not limited to giving it orally. The article does not set out the form of written testimony or the procedures for submitting it.
Second: the duty of disclosure. The witness, before giving testimony, must disclose:
- Any relationship that may affect it with the parties to the case.
- Any interest the witness has in the case.
The article does not state the consequences of having such a relationship or interest, but disclosure is connected to Article 48, which provides that the court assesses witness testimony in terms of the witnesses' integrity, conduct, behavior and other circumstances of the case without the need for character endorsement, and takes from it as much as it is satisfied is true.
The article is also connected to Article 50, which allows the court, of its own motion, to put to the witness any questions it considers useful to reveal the truth, and allows an opposing party to question the witness directly under procedures and controls set by the Implementing Regulations.
Anyone who needs to prepare written testimony or present witnesses should consider consulting a lawyer specialized in commercial cases.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh relied on the testimony of an accountant who works for it to prove an agreement with a customer, and submitted his testimony in writing. Before giving his testimony, the accountant must disclose his relationship with the company if that relationship may affect it, and any interest he has in the case.
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 49 of the Saudi Commercial Courts Law
Can testimony be submitted in writing in the commercial court?
Yes. The parties may submit testimony in writing.
Must a witness state their relationship with the parties to the case?
Yes. Before giving testimony, the witness must disclose any relationship with the parties to the case that may affect it, or any interest the witness has in it.
More articles on Evidence in a Commercial Case
- Article 38
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.
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،
- 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
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.