Article 112 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 112 من نظام الإثبات · الباب العاشر: الخبرة
The article governs the court's setting of the expert fee amount, the party required to deposit it and the deadline, the other party's option to deposit with a right of recourse, and the effect of neither party depositing.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تحدد المحكمة -عند الاقتضاء- المبلغ المقرر للخبرة، والخصم المكلف بإيداع المبلغ وتعين أجلاً لذلك.
2- إذا لم يودع الخصم المكلف المبلغ المقرر للخبرة في الأجل المعين، فيجوز للخصم الآخر أن يودع المبلغ دون إخلال بحقه في الرجوع على خصمه.
3- إذا لم يودع المبلغ أيّ من الخصمين، فللمحكمة أن تقرر إيقاف الدعوى إلى حين الإيداع؛ متى كان الفصل فيها متوقفاً على قرار الخبرة، أو تقرر سقوط حق الخصم في التمسك بقرار الندب إذا وجدت أن الأعذار التي أبداها غير مقبولة.
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 112 explained in plain English
This article deals with the cost of expert opinion: how much it is, who pays it, and what happens if it is not paid.
- Setting the amount: the court, where necessary, sets the amount fixed for the expert opinion, the party required to deposit it, and a deadline for the deposit.
- If the party required does not deposit: the other party may deposit the amount, without losing his right of recourse against his opponent for what he paid.
- If neither deposits: the court has one of two options:
- Stay the case until the deposit is made, where deciding it depends on the expert's decision.
- Or rule that the party loses his right to rely on the appointment order, if it finds the excuses he gave unacceptable.
The article does not specify the amount of the expert fee or the length of the deadline; assessing these is left to the court in each case.
The article is connected to Article 111, which requires the appointment order to state precisely the expert's task and powers, and to Article 113, which requires the expert, before starting the task, to disclose any relationship with the parties to the case or any interest in it, failing which he is removed and returns the sums he received.
A person required to deposit the expert fee who has an excuse for delay should state it to the court, because the court's refusal to accept excuses may lead to the loss of his right to rely on the appointment order. It is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in litigation and civil matters on this.
Practical example
In a dispute over defects in the construction of a warehouse in Dammam, the court required the owner to deposit the expert fee within a set deadline, and he did not. The contractor deposited it so the expert opinion would not be held up, keeping his right of recourse against the owner for what he paid.
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 112 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Who pays the expert's fees in a case?
The court, where necessary, sets the amount fixed for the expert opinion, the party required to deposit it, and the deadline for the deposit.
Can I pay the expert's fees in place of my opponent?
Yes. If the party required does not deposit the amount by the deadline, you may deposit it without prejudice to your right of recourse against him.
What happens if no one pays the expert's fees?
The court may stay the case until the deposit is made where deciding it depends on the expert opinion, or rule that the party loses his right to rely on the appointment order if it does not accept his excuses.
More articles on Inspection and Expert Opinion
- Article 91
The article allows the court, where necessary, to appoint an expert to verify that a custom or usual course of dealing between the parties exists, in accordance with the provisions on expert opinion in Part Ten of the Law.
للمحكمة عند الاقتضاء ندب خبير للتحقق من ثبوت العرف أو العادة بين الخصوم، وفقاً للأحكام المقررة في الباب (العاشر) من هذا النظام.
- Article 108
The article allows the court, of its own motion or at a party's request, to order an inspection of the matter in dispute, with notice to an absent party at least 24 hours before, and to use an expert and hear witnesses.
1- للمحكمة -من تلقاء نفسها أو بناء على طلب أحد الخصوم- أن تقرر معاينة المتنازع فيه، وتحدد في قرار المعاينة تاريخها ومكانها، ويبلغ به من كان غائباً من الخصوم قبل
- Article 109
The article allows a person who fears the features of a fact that may become disputed will be lost to request its inspection and the recording of its condition by an urgent claim, with the possible appointment of an expert and a hearing set for the parties' comments on his report.
1- يجوز لمن يخشى ضياع معالم واقعة يحتمل أن تصبح محل نزاع أمام القضاء أن يطلب معاينتها وإثبات حالتها، ويقدم الطلب بدعوى مستعجلة للمحكمة المختصة وفقاً للإجراءات ا
- Article 110
The article allows the court, of its own motion or at a party's request, to appoint one or more experts to give an opinion on technical matters, with expertise suited to the subject, and to approve the parties' agreement on an expert.
1- للمحكمة -من تلقاء نفسها أو بناء على طلب أحد الخصوم- أن تقرر ندب خبير أو أكثر؛ لإبداء رأيه في المسائل الفنية التي يستلزمها الفصل في الدعوى. 2- يراعى في اختيار
- Article 111
The article requires the operative part of the order appointing an expert to state precisely his task, his powers, and the urgent measures he is authorized to take.
يجب أن يتضمن منطوق قرار ندب الخبير بياناً دقيقاً بمهمته، وصلاحياته، والتدابير العاجلة التي يؤذن له في اتخاذها.
- Article 113
The article requires the expert, before starting his task, to disclose any relationship with the parties to the case or any interest in it, failing which the court removes him and orders him to return sums received, by a final judgment.
يجب على الخبير قبل مباشرته المهمة أن يفصح عن أي علاقة له بأطراف الدعوى أو أي مصلحة له فيها، فإن أخل بذلك حكمت المحكمة بعزله وبرد ما تسلمه من مبالغ. ويكون الحكم
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.