Article 35 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 35 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الثالث: طلب إلزام الخصم بتقديم المحرَّرات الموجودة تحت يده
The Article sets out when the court orders the opponent to produce the requested document, and the consequences if he refuses to produce it or denies that it exists.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا أقر الخصم أن المحرَّر في حوزته أو سكت، أو أثبت الطالب صحة طلبه، أمرت المحكمة بتقديم المحرَّر.
2- إذا امتنع الخصم عن تقديم المحرَّر المطلوب بعد إمهاله مرة واحدة، عدت صورة المحرَّر التي قدمها الطالب صحيحة مطابقة لأصلها، فإن لم يكن قد قدم صورة من المحرَّر؛ فللمحكمة الأخذ بقول الطالب فيما يتعلق بشكل المحرَّر ومضمونه.
3- إذا أنكر الخصم وجود المحرَّر ولم يقدم الطالب للمحكمة إثباتاً كافياً لصحة طلبه، فله أن يطلب من المحكمة توجيه اليمين لخصمه فيما يتعلق بهذا المحرَّر، وفقاً للأحكام المقررة في الباب (الثامن) من هذا النظام، وإذا نكل الخصم عن اليمين ولم يردها على الطالب أو رد اليمين على الطالب فحلف، عدت صورة المحرَّر التي قدمها الطالب صحيحة مطابقة لأصلها، فإن لم يكن قد قدم صورة من المحرَّر؛ فللمحكمة الأخذ بقول الطالب فيما يتعلق بشكل المحرَّر ومضمونه.
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 35 explained in plain English
This Article complements Article 34, which allows a request to compel an opponent to produce a document in his possession, by setting out what happens after the request:
- Order to produce: The court orders the document to be produced if the opponent admits that it is in his possession, or remains silent, or the applicant proves that his request is well founded.
- Refusal after a grace period: If the opponent refuses to produce the document after being given one grace period, the copy of the document submitted by the applicant is treated as authentic and matching its original. If the applicant has not submitted a copy, the court may accept his statement concerning the form and content of the document.
- Denying that the document exists: If the opponent denies that it exists and the applicant has not provided sufficient proof that his request is well founded, the applicant may ask the court to administer the oath to his opponent regarding this document, in accordance with the provisions of Part Eight of the Law.
In the case of the oath, if the opponent refuses to take it and does not refer it back to the applicant, or refers it back to the applicant and he swears it, the same result follows: the applicant's copy is treated as authentic and matching its original, and if he has not submitted a copy, the court may accept his statement concerning the form and content of the document.
In this way, an opponent does not benefit from hiding the document. Article 36 sets out specific provisions on requests to produce or inspect documents in commercial cases, and allows the court to treat refusal as a presumption. To assess your position in a particular dispute, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in civil or commercial litigation.
Practical example
Khaled asked the court to compel the landlord of his apartment in Makkah to produce the addendum to the lease signed between them, and submitted a copy of it. The landlord admitted that he holds the addendum but did not produce it despite being given one grace period, so the copy of the addendum submitted by Khaled is treated as authentic and matching its original.
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 35 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What happens if the opponent refuses to produce the document the court ordered?
If he refuses after being given one grace period, the copy of the document submitted by the applicant is treated as authentic and matching its original, and if the applicant has not submitted a copy, the court may accept his statement concerning the form and content of the document.
What if the opponent denies that the document exists at all?
If the applicant has not provided sufficient proof, he may ask for the oath to be administered to his opponent regarding the document, in accordance with the provisions of Part Eight of the Law.
Is the opponent's silence on the request enough for the court to order production of the document?
Yes. The court orders the document to be produced if the opponent admits possessing it, or remains silent, or the applicant proves that his request is well founded.
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An ordinary document is binding on the person who signed it unless he expressly denies his handwriting, signature, seal or fingerprint, and a denial is not accepted from a person who has discussed the substance of the document before the court.
1- يعد المحرَّر العادي صادراً ممن وقعه وحجة عليه؛ ما لم ينكر صراحة ما هو منسوب إليه من خط أو إمضاء أو ختم أو بصمة، أو ينكر ذلك خلَفُه أو ينفي علمه بأن الخط أو ا
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تكون للمراسلات الموقع عليها أو الثابت نسبتها إلى مرسلها؛ حجية المحرَّر العادي في الإثبات، ما لم يثبت المرسل أنه لم يرسل الرسالة ولم يكلف أحداً بإرسالها.
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.