Article 63 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 63 من نظام الإثبات · الباب الرابع: الدليل الرقمي
The Article gives extracts from digital evidence, including extracts from digital payment means, the force of the evidence itself to the extent that they match their digital record.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يكون للمستخرجات من الدليل الرقمي الحجية المقررة للدليل نفسه، وذلك بالقدر الذي تكون فيه المستخرجات مطابقة لسجلها الرقمي.
2- يسري حكم الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة على المستخرجات من وسائل الدفع الرقمية.
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 63 explained in plain English
Digital evidence is often not submitted to the court in its original form; rather, an extract of it is submitted, such as a printed copy or a file extracted from an electronic system. This Article answers the question: what is the value of this extract in proof?
- Paragraph (1): Extracts from digital evidence have the same force established for the original evidence, but this is limited to the extent that the extract matches its digital record. If the extract matches the record, it carries its weight, and to the extent that it does not match, it does not take this force.
- Paragraph (2): The same rule applies to extracts from digital payment means, which take the force of the evidence to the extent that they match their digital record.
The decisive criterion in this Article is therefore matching; a copy does not acquire its force from its form, but from its match with the digital record from which it was extracted.
This Article is linked to Article 62, which leaves it to the court to assess the force of digital evidence if verification is impossible for a reason not attributable to the parties, and to Article 64, which provides that whatever is not provided for in the Part on digital evidence is subject to the provisions of Part Three of the Law, so far as they do not conflict with its digital nature. A person who relies in his dispute on digital or financial extracts can consult a lawyer specializing in civil and commercial litigation.
Practical example
Khaled bought goods from a store in Dammam and paid for them by digital transfer, and the store then denied receiving the amount. Khaled submitted an extract from the payment means showing the transaction; this extract has the force of the digital evidence itself to the extent that it matches its digital record.
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 63 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Does a printed copy of digital evidence have the same force as the original?
Extracts have the force of the evidence itself, but to the extent that they match their digital record.
Are digital payment receipts valid as evidence?
Paragraph (2) provides that extracts from digital payment means take the same rule, that is, the force of the evidence to the extent that they match their digital record.
What is the basic condition for the force of a digital extract?
The condition is that the extract matches its digital record, and its force is to the extent of this match.
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.