Article 58 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 58 من نظام الإثبات · الباب الرابع: الدليل الرقمي
The Article places the burden of proving that the digital evidence referred to in Articles 56 and 57 is not valid on the opponent who claims it is not valid.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على الخصم الذي يدعي عدم صحة الدليل الرقمي المنصوص عليه في المادتين (السادسة والخمسين) و(السابعة والخمسين) عبء إثبات ادعائه.
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 58 explained in plain English
This Article determines who bears the burden of proof when the validity of digital evidence is challenged, providing that the opponent who claims that the digital evidence is not valid bears the burden of proving his claim.
But this rule concerns two specific types of digital evidence:
- The digital evidence referred to in Article 56.
- Unofficial digital evidence in the cases set out in Article 57, namely: that issued in accordance with the Electronic Transactions Law or the E-Commerce Law, or derived from a digital means stated in the contract at issue, or from a documented digital means or one made public.
In practice, this means that a person who submits digital evidence of these two types is not required at the outset to prove that it is valid; rather, the opponent who claims it is not valid must prove this. This is consistent with Article 57, which makes unofficial digital evidence in its cases binding unless the contrary is proven.
As for digital evidence that does not fall within Articles 56 and 57, Article 59 provides that it has the force established for an ordinary document in accordance with the provisions of the Law.
A person who wants to challenge the validity of digital evidence submitted against him is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in civil litigation.
Practical example
A company in Dammam submitted messages exchanged with its customer through the digital mail stated in their contract, and the customer claimed that these messages were not valid. The customer bears the burden of proving his claim that they are not valid.
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 58 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Who proves that digital evidence is not valid?
The opponent who claims that the digital evidence referred to in Articles 56 and 57 is not valid bears the burden of proving his claim.
Does this rule cover all digital evidence?
The text concerns the digital evidence referred to in Articles 56 and 57; other digital evidence has the force of an ordinary document under Article 59.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 56
Official digital evidence has the force of an official document if it meets the conditions of paragraph 1 of Article 25, including what is issued automatically by the digital systems of public bodies.
يكون للدليل الرقمي الرسمي الحجية المقررة للمحرَّر الرسمي؛ إذا استوفى الشروط المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الخامسة والعشرين) بما في ذلك ما يصدر آلياً من
- Article 57
Unofficial digital evidence is binding on the parties to the dealing unless the contrary is proven, if issued under the Electronic Transactions or E-Commerce Law, or from a means stated in the contract, or a documented or public one.
يكون الدليل الرقمي غير الرسمي حجةً على أطراف التعامل -ما لم يثبت خلاف ذلك- في الحالات الآتية: 1- إذا كان صادراً وفقاً لنظام التعاملات الإلكترونية أو نظام التجار
More articles on Digital Evidence
- Article 10
Any evidence procedure taken electronically is subject to the same provisions set out in the Law of Evidence.
يكون لأي إجراء من إجراءات الإثبات اتخذ إلكترونياً الأحكام المقررة في هذا النظام.
- Article 52
The Article allows the court to accept a paper or digital document issued outside the Kingdom if certified by the competent authorities in the country of issue and in the Kingdom, unless it contravenes public order.
مع عدم الإخلال بالتزامات المملكة بموجب الاتفاقيات الدولية التي تكون طرفاً فيها، يجوز للمحكمة أن تقبل في الإثبات المحرَّر الورقي أو الرقمي الصادر خارج المملكة وا
- Article 53
The Article defines digital evidence as any evidence derived from data created, issued, delivered, stored or communicated by digital means, which can be retrieved in an understandable form.
يعد دليلاً رقمياً كل دليل مستمد من أي بيانات تنشأ أو تصدر أو تسلم أو تحفظ أو تبلغ بوسيلة رقمية، وتكون قابلة للاسترجاع أو الحصول عليها بصورة يمكن فهمها.
- Article 54
The Article lists the forms of digital evidence: the digital record, document and signature, digital correspondence including email, means of communication, digital media, and any other digital evidence.
يشمل الدليل الرقمي الآتي: 1- السجل الرقمي. 2- المحرَّر الرقمي. 3- التوقيع الرقمي. 4- المراسلات الرقمية بما فيها البريد الرقمي. 5- وسائل الاتصال. 6- الوسائط الرق
- Article 55
The Article provides that proof by digital evidence has the same rule as proof by writing set out in the Law of Evidence.
يكون للإثبات بالدليل الرقمي حكم الإثبات بالكتابة الوارد في هذا النظام.
- Article 56
Official digital evidence has the force of an official document if it meets the conditions of paragraph 1 of Article 25, including what is issued automatically by the digital systems of public bodies.
يكون للدليل الرقمي الرسمي الحجية المقررة للمحرَّر الرسمي؛ إذا استوفى الشروط المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الخامسة والعشرين) بما في ذلك ما يصدر آلياً من
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.