Article 51 of the Saudi Commercial Courts Law
المادة 51 من نظام المحاكم التجارية · الفصل الرابع: الشهادة
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the rules for using modern means in hearing testimony, and the mechanisms for documenting testimony before a case is filed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تحدد اللائحة أحكام استخدام الوسائل الحديثة في سماع الشهادة، وآليات توثيق الشهادة قبل إقامة الدعوى.
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 51 explained in plain English
This article is a referral article: it does not set detailed provisions itself, but leaves it to the Implementing Regulations to determine two matters relating to testimony:
- The rules for using modern means in hearing testimony.
- The mechanisms for documenting testimony before a case is filed.
The first matter indicates that testimony before the commercial court may be heard using modern means, but specifying those means and the rules for using them is left to the Implementing Regulations, and the Law does not state them.
The second matter indicates that there are mechanisms for documenting testimony before a case is filed, that is, before it is submitted to the court. How this documentation is done and its conditions are also left to the Implementing Regulations.
Therefore, anyone who wants to know the practical details of either matter should refer to the Implementing Regulations, not to the text of this article.
The article is 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 document testimony before filing a commercial case should consider consulting a lawyer specialized in commercial cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 51 of Commercial Courts Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
- Commercial & Corporate Law
Frequently asked questions about Article 51 of the Saudi Commercial Courts Law
Can testimony be heard by modern means in the commercial court?
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations to set the rules for using modern means in hearing testimony.
Can testimony be documented before filing a commercial case?
The article provides that the Implementing Regulations set the mechanisms for documenting testimony before a case is filed.
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.