Article 8 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 8 من نظام الإثبات · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
The court must set a date for any evidence procedure it decides to carry out or assigns to one of its judges, and may carry it out even if the parties are absent once they have been notified of the date.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا قررت المحكمة مباشرة إجراء من إجراءات الإثبات، أو كلفت بذلك أحد قضاتها، تعين عليها أن تحدد موعداً لذلك.
2- للمحكمة مباشرة إجراءات الإثبات ولو لم يحضر الخصوم أو أحدهم؛ متى بلغوا بالموعد المحدد.
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 8 explained in plain English
This article regulates the date of evidence procedures and the effect of the parties' absence from them:
- Setting a date is mandatory: if the court decides to carry out an evidence procedure, or assigns one of its judges to do so, it must set a date for that procedure.
- Absence does not prevent the procedure: the court may carry out evidence procedures even if the parties or one of them do not attend, provided they have been notified of the date set. Notification is the condition that allows the procedure to go ahead despite absence.
In practice this means that a party who was notified of the date of an evidence procedure and did not attend does not, by his absence, stop the court from carrying out the procedure. If he was not notified of the date, the condition of this rule is not met.
The article is linked to Article 9, which allows the court to withdraw from evidence procedures it ordered, provided it states the reasons for withdrawing in the record of the session, and not to adopt the result of the procedure, provided it states the reasons in its judgment. It is also linked to Article 7, which provides that judgments, orders and decisions issued in evidence procedures need not state reasons unless they contain a final ruling.
It is therefore important to follow the notifications and dates in your case and, when needed, to consult a lawyer specializing in civil and commercial cases.
Practical example
In a dispute between two neighbors in Qassim, the court decided to carry out an evidence procedure and set a date for it, of which it notified both parties. One party attended and the other was absent, and the court may proceed with the procedure despite the absence because the absent party had been notified of the date.
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 8 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Does the court carry out an evidence procedure if one of the parties is absent?
Yes. The court may carry out evidence procedures even if the parties or one of them do not attend, once they have been notified of the date set.
Must the court set a date for an evidence procedure?
Yes. If it decides to carry out an evidence procedure or assigns one of its judges to do so, it must set a date for it.
What is the condition for carrying out the procedure in a party's absence?
That the party has been notified of the date set.
More articles on Burden of Proof and General Provisions
- Article 1
Article 1 defines the scope of the Law of Evidence, providing that its provisions apply to civil and commercial transactions.
تسري أحكام هذا النظام على المعاملات المدنية والتجارية.
- Article 2
The article requires the claimant to prove his right and gives the defendant the right to deny it, requires facts to be relevant, material and admissible, and prevents the judge from ruling on his personal knowledge.
1- على المدعي أن يثبت ما يدعيه من حق، وللمدعى عليه نفيه. 2- يجب أن تكون الوقائع المراد إثباتها متعلقة بالدعوى، ومنتجة فيها، وجائزاً قبولها. 3- لا يجوز للقاضي أن
- Article 3
The article sets general rules of evidence: the evidence is on the claimant and the oath on the denier, the function of each, and the difference between the force of evidence and of admission.
1- البينة على من ادعى، واليمين على من أنكر. 2- البينة لإثبات خلاف الظاهر، واليمين لإبقاء الأصل. 3- البينة حجة متعدية، والإقرار حجة قاصرة. 4- الثابت بالبرهان كال
- Article 4
If items of evidence conflict and cannot be reconciled, the court takes the one that is preferred in light of the case's circumstances, otherwise none, and must state its reasons in the judgment.
دون إخلال بأحكام هذا النظام، إذا تعارضت أدلة الإثبات ولم يمكن الجمع بينها فتأخذ المحكمة منها بحسب ما يترجح لها من ظروف الدعوى، فإن تعذر ذلك فلا تأخذ المحكمة بأي
- Article 5
The law does not require any particular form to prove an obligation, unless a special provision or an agreement between the parties says otherwise.
لا يلزم لإثبات الالتزام شكل معين؛ ما لم يرد فيه نص خاص أو اتفاق بين الخصوم.
- Article 6
The court gives effect to the parties' agreement on specific rules of evidence unless it violates public order, and such an agreement is not recognized unless it is in writing.
1- إذا اتفق الخصوم على قواعد محددة في الإثبات فتُعمِل المحكمة اتفاقَهم؛ ما لم يخالف النظام العام. 2- لا يعتد باتفاق الخصوم المنصوص عليه في هذا النظام ما لم يكن
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.