Article 83 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 83 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الخامس: أحكام ختامية في الشهادة
The Article provides that the court, at the witness's request, assesses his travel expenses and compensation for time lost, borne by the losing party or distributed among the parties in proportion to each one's loss.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تقدر المحكمة -بناءً على طلب الشاهد- مصروفات انتقاله ومقابل تعطيله، ويتحملها الخصم الذي خسر الدعوى، إلا إذا كانت الخسارة نسبية فيتحمل كل من الخصوم بقدر خسارته. وتبين المحكمة ذلك في الحكم الصادر في موضوع الدعوى.
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 83 explained in plain English
This Article protects the witness from bearing a financial loss because of giving testimony, and sets out who pays this:
- What is assessed for the witness: his travel expenses and compensation for his time lost.
- At the witness's request: The court assesses this at the witness's request; the assessment is not automatic.
- Who bears it: It is borne by the party who lost the case.
- Proportional loss: If the loss is proportional, that is, each party lost part of the case, each party bears it in proportion to his loss.
- Stating it in the judgment: The court states this in the judgment issued on the merits of the case.
The Article does not set amounts or schedules for these expenses, but leaves their assessment to the court. It also ties bearing the expenses to the outcome of the case, not to who summoned the witness; a party who did not request the witness may bear them if he is the one who lost.
This Article is linked to Article 82, which bars harming a witness and requires the court to prevent any attempt to intimidate or influence him; both preserve the witness's rights so that people do not hold back from testifying.
A person who was summoned to testify and incurred travel expenses or lost time from his work should ask the court to assess this. A person who wants to know what he may bear of these expenses in his case can consult a lawyer specializing in litigation.
Practical example
Adel traveled from Taif to Jeddah to testify in a case between two merchants, and lost a full day of work, so he asked the court to assess his travel expenses and compensation for his time lost. The court assessed this, and stated in its judgment that the losing party bears it; had the loss been proportional, each party would have borne it in proportion to his loss.
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 83 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Is a witness entitled to claim attendance expenses?
Yes. At the witness's request, the court assesses his travel expenses and compensation for his time lost.
Who pays the witness's expenses?
The party who lost the case bears them, and if the loss is proportional, each party bears them in proportion to his loss.
When does the court decide who pays the witness's expenses?
The court states this in the judgment issued on the merits of the case.
More articles on Testimony and Witnesses
- Article 11
Admission, interrogation, testimony and the oath take place before the court, which may move or assign a judge if that is not possible, and delegates the court of the place of residence if evidence cannot be taken electronically.
1- تكون إجراءات الإثبات من إقرار أو استجواب أو أداء للشهادة أو اليمين أمام المحكمة، فإن تعذر فللمحكمة أن تنتقل أو تكلف أحد قضاتها بذلك. 2- إذا كان المقر أو المس
- Article 12
A mute person's admission, interrogation, testimony and oath, and the directing, refusing and returning of it, are done in writing, or if he cannot write, by his customary gestures.
يكون إقرار الأخرس ومن في حكمه واستجوابه وأداؤه للشهادة واليمين وتوجيهها والنكول عنها وردها بالكتابة، فإن لم يكن يعرف الكتابة فبإشارته المعهودة.
- Article 19
A non-judicial admission is proved in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Evidence, and may not be proved by testimony except in cases where proof by testimony is permitted.
يكون إثبات الإقرار غير القضائي وفق الأحكام المقررة في هذا النظام، بما في ذلك عدم جواز إثباته بالشهادة إلا في الأحوال التي يجوز فيها الإثبات بالشهادة.
- Article 65
The Article provides that the rule is that proof by witness testimony is permitted, unless a provision states otherwise.
يجوز الإثبات بشهادة الشهود؛ ما لم يرد نص يقضي بغير ذلك.
- Article 66
The Article requires every transaction worth more than SAR 100,000, or of unspecified value, to be proven in writing, bars proof by witnesses unless agreed or provided, and explains how value is assessed.
1- يجب أن يثبت بالكتابة كل تصرف تزيد قيمته على (مائة ألف ريال أو ما يعادلها) أو كان غير محدد القيمة. 2- لا تقبل شهادة الشهود في إثبات وجود أو انقضاء التصرفات ال
- Article 67
The Article sets out three cases in which proof by witnesses is barred even if the value of the transaction does not exceed SAR 100,000.
لا يجوز الإثبات بشهادة الشهود ولو لم تزد قيمة التصرف على (مائة ألف ريال أو ما يعادلها) في الحالات الآتية: 1- فيما اشترط النظام لصحته أو إثباته أن يكون مكتوباً.
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.