Article 59 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 59 من نظام الإثبات · الباب الرابع: الدليل الرقمي
Except for what Articles 56 and 57 provide, digital evidence has the force established for an ordinary document in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Evidence.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
فيما عدا ما نصت عليه المادتان (السادسة والخمسون) و(السابعة والخمسون) من هذا النظام؛ يكون للدليل الرقمي الحجية المقررة للمحرَّر العادي؛ وفقاً لأحكام هذا النظام.
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 59 explained in plain English
This Article sets a general fallback rule for the force of digital evidence. It first excepts what Articles 56 and 57 of the Law provide, and then provides that any other digital evidence has the force established for an ordinary document.
In practice, this means:
- If the digital evidence falls within one of the cases regulated by Articles 56 and 57, their provisions apply to it.
- If it does not fall within them, it is not disregarded, but is treated in proof like an ordinary document.
In this the Article refers to the provisions of this Law, meaning that the strength of this evidence and the ways of invoking and discussing it are subject to the provisions the Law of Evidence sets for an ordinary document; the Article does not repeat those provisions.
Thus no digital evidence is left without a rule that determines its strength in proof: either the provisions of Articles 56 and 57 apply to it, or it has the force of an ordinary document.
This Article is linked to Article 58, which places the burden of proving that the digital evidence referred to in Articles 56 and 57 is not valid on the opponent who claims this, and to Article 60, which provides that digital evidence is submitted in its original form or by any other digital means, and that the court may ask for its content in writing where its nature allows.
A person who wants to know the strength of particular digital evidence in his case is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in civil litigation.
Practical example
In a dispute with his neighbor in Al-Qassim, Faisal submitted digital messages they had exchanged. If these messages do not fall within the cases regulated by Articles 56 and 57, they have the force established for an ordinary document in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Evidence.
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 59 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What is the force of digital evidence that does not fall under Articles 56 and 57?
It has the force established for an ordinary document in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Evidence.
Is digital evidence disregarded if the provisions of Articles 56 and 57 do not apply to it?
No. The Article gives it the force established for an ordinary document.
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.