Article 50 of the Saudi Commercial Courts Law
المادة 50 من نظام المحاكم التجارية · الفصل الرابع: الشهادة
The court may, of its own motion, put to the witness any questions it considers useful to reveal the truth, and an opposing party may question the witness directly under procedures and controls set by the Implementing Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للمحكمة - من تلقاء نفسها - أن توجه إلى الشاهد ما تراه من الأسئلة مفيداً لإظهار الحقيقة.
2- للخصم استجواب الشاهد مباشرة، وتحدد اللائحة إجراءات وضوابط ذلك.
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 50 explained in plain English
This article regulates the examination of the witness before the commercial court, and gives this right to two parties:
- The court: it may, of its own motion and without a request from the litigants, put to the witness any questions it considers useful to reveal the truth.
- The opposing party: it may question the witness directly.
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations to set the procedures and controls for the direct questioning of the witness; the Law does not state these details, so they are found in the Implementing Regulations.
The importance of this article is that testimony is not limited to what the witness says at first; the court and the opposing party can examine the witness with questions. This complements Article 49, which allows the parties to submit testimony in writing, and requires the witness, before giving testimony, to disclose any relationship with the parties to the case that may affect it, or any interest the witness has in it.
The article is also connected to Article 51, which refers to the Implementing Regulations to set the rules for using modern means in hearing testimony, and the mechanisms for documenting testimony before a case is filed.
Anyone preparing to question a witness in a commercial case, or presenting a witness who may be questioned, should consider using a lawyer specialized in commercial cases.
Practical example
In a case between a contractor and the owner of a commercial project in Dammam, an employee of the contractor testified that the works were delivered on time. The owner, as an opposing party, may question the witness directly under the controls of the Implementing Regulations, and the court may ask him of its own motion about the details of delivery.
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 50 of the Saudi Commercial Courts Law
Can I question my opponent's witness in the commercial court?
Yes. The opposing party may question the witness directly, and the Implementing Regulations set the procedures and controls for this.
Can the judge question the witness without a request from the litigants?
Yes. The court may, of its own motion, put to the witness any questions it considers useful to reveal the truth.
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.