Article 60 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 60 من نظام الإثبات · الباب الرابع: الدليل الرقمي
Digital evidence is submitted in its original form or by any other digital means, and the court may ask for its content in writing where its nature allows.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقدم الدليل الرقمي بهيئته الأصلية، أو بأي وسيلة رقمية أخرى، وللمحكمة أن تطلب تقديم محتواه مكتوباً؛ متى كانت طبيعته تسمح بذلك.
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 60 explained in plain English
This Article regulates how digital evidence is submitted to the court, and allows flexibility in this:
- Original form: Digital evidence may be submitted in its original form, that is, in the form in which it was created or stored.
- Another digital means: It may be submitted by any other digital means; there is no need to be bound to the original means.
- Written content: The court may ask for the content of the evidence to be submitted in writing, where its nature allows this. The content of some digital evidence can be converted into text, such as messages and correspondence, while the nature of some may not allow this.
Asking for the content in writing is a discretionary power of the court; the text says the court may ask, and does not make it a condition in every case.
The Article does not specify the digital means accepted for submission or the form of the written content.
This Article is linked to Article 61, which provides that if any of the parties refuses without an acceptable excuse to submit what the court asked for in order to verify the validity of digital evidence, his right to rely on it is forfeited or it is treated as binding on him, as the case may be. Article 59 gives digital evidence, except for what Articles 56 and 57 provide, the force established for an ordinary document.
A person who wants to submit digital evidence in his case properly is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in civil or commercial litigation, depending on the nature of the dispute.
Practical example
Hind has a voice recording and text messages on her phone proving an agreement with an establishment in Riyadh. She may submit them in their original form or by any other digital means, and the court may ask her to submit the content of the messages in writing because their nature allows this.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 60 of Law of Evidence?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Unwan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 60 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
How do I submit digital evidence to the court?
Digital evidence is submitted in its original form or by any other digital means.
Will the court ask for conversations to be printed?
The court may ask for the content of the digital evidence to be submitted in writing where its nature allows this.
What if I refuse to submit what the court asks for in order to verify digital evidence?
Article 61 provides that if a party does so without an acceptable excuse, his right to rely on the evidence is forfeited or it is treated as binding on him, as the case may be.
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.