Article 2 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 2 من نظام الإثبات · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
The article requires the claimant to prove his right and gives the defendant the right to deny it, requires facts to be relevant, material and admissible, and prevents the judge from ruling on his personal knowledge.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- على المدعي أن يثبت ما يدعيه من حق، وللمدعى عليه نفيه.
2- يجب أن تكون الوقائع المراد إثباتها متعلقة بالدعوى، ومنتجة فيها، وجائزاً قبولها.
3- لا يجوز للقاضي أن يحكم بعلمه الشخصي.
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 2 explained in plain English
This article sets three basic rules on which proof rests in the civil and commercial transactions that Article 1 made the scope of the law:
- The burden of proof is on the claimant: whoever claims a right must prove what he claims, and a bare claim is not enough. In return, the defendant may deny what is claimed against him.
- Conditions for a fact to be proved: the fact to be proved must be relevant to the case, material to it, meaning that it has an effect on deciding it, and admissible. If one of these descriptions is missing, the fact is not a proper subject of proof.
- The judge is prevented from ruling on his personal knowledge: a judge may not base his judgment on what he knows in his personal capacity.
This article is linked to Article 3, which provides that the evidence is on the one who claims and the oath on the one who denies, that evidence is used to prove what is contrary to the apparent position and the oath to keep the original position, and that evidence is a proof that extends to others while an admission is a limited proof.
In practical terms, a person who brings a claim should take care to present what proves what he claims, and focus on the facts that relate to the dispute and affect it. To assess whether your evidence is sufficient in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in civil and commercial cases.
Practical example
Sarah brought a claim demanding from her friend an amount she had lent her. Under this article, Sarah must prove the loan, and her friend is entitled to deny it. If Sarah asked to prove a fact unrelated to the loan, such as an old personal disagreement between them, that fact would not be a proper subject of proof because it is not relevant to 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 2 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Who bears the burden of proof in a case?
The claimant, who must prove the right he claims, while the defendant may deny it.
What are the conditions for a fact that may be proved?
It must be relevant to the case, material to it, and admissible.
May a judge rule on the basis of what he knows personally?
No. The article expressly provides that a judge may not rule on his personal knowledge.
More articles on Burden of Proof and General Provisions
- Article 1
Article 1 defines the scope of the Law of Evidence, providing that its provisions apply to civil and commercial transactions.
تسري أحكام هذا النظام على المعاملات المدنية والتجارية.
- Article 3
The article sets general rules of evidence: the evidence is on the claimant and the oath on the denier, the function of each, and the difference between the force of evidence and of admission.
1- البينة على من ادعى، واليمين على من أنكر. 2- البينة لإثبات خلاف الظاهر، واليمين لإبقاء الأصل. 3- البينة حجة متعدية، والإقرار حجة قاصرة. 4- الثابت بالبرهان كال
- Article 4
If items of evidence conflict and cannot be reconciled, the court takes the one that is preferred in light of the case's circumstances, otherwise none, and must state its reasons in the judgment.
دون إخلال بأحكام هذا النظام، إذا تعارضت أدلة الإثبات ولم يمكن الجمع بينها فتأخذ المحكمة منها بحسب ما يترجح لها من ظروف الدعوى، فإن تعذر ذلك فلا تأخذ المحكمة بأي
- Article 5
The law does not require any particular form to prove an obligation, unless a special provision or an agreement between the parties says otherwise.
لا يلزم لإثبات الالتزام شكل معين؛ ما لم يرد فيه نص خاص أو اتفاق بين الخصوم.
- Article 6
The court gives effect to the parties' agreement on specific rules of evidence unless it violates public order, and such an agreement is not recognized unless it is in writing.
1- إذا اتفق الخصوم على قواعد محددة في الإثبات فتُعمِل المحكمة اتفاقَهم؛ ما لم يخالف النظام العام. 2- لا يعتد باتفاق الخصوم المنصوص عليه في هذا النظام ما لم يكن
- Article 7
Judgments, orders and decisions issued in evidence procedures need not state reasons unless they contain a final ruling, and judgments in urgent evidence claims must always state reasons.
1- الأحكام والأوامر والقرارات الصادرة بإجراءات الإثبات؛ لا يلزم تسبيبها ما لم تتضمن قضاءً قطعياً. 2- يتعين في جميع الأحوال تسبيب الأحكام الصادرة في دعاوى الإثبا
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.