Article 85 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 85 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الأول: القرائن
The article allows the court to infer other presumptions in matters provable by witness testimony, explaining how they point to the fact, and to use scientific means for that purpose.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للمحكمة أن تستنبط قرائن أخرى للإثبات، وذلك في الأحوال التي يجوز فيها الإثبات بالشهادة؛ على أن تبين وجه دلالتها.
2- للمحكمة الاستعانة بالوسائل العلمية في استنباط القرائن.
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 85 explained in plain English
This article deals with judicial presumptions, meaning presumptions that the court infers from the facts of the case, and sets limits on them:
- Paragraph (1):
- The court may infer other presumptions for the purpose of proof.
- This applies only in cases where proof by witness testimony is allowed.
- On condition that it explains how the presumption points to the fact, that is, that it makes clear how it reasoned from the presumption to the fact.
- Paragraph (2): the court may use scientific means in inferring presumptions.
The article has two key restrictions. First, a judicial presumption may be used only where proof by witness testimony is allowed, so what cannot be proved by witnesses cannot be proved by it. Second, the court must give reasons for its inference by explaining how the presumption points to the fact; it is not enough to say that a presumption exists.
The article does not specify the scientific means; it leaves it to the court to use them in inferring presumptions.
These presumptions differ from the statutory presumptions in Article 84, which are established by Sharia or by law and spare the person they favor from any other means of proof, while their effect may still be rebutted by any other means unless a provision says otherwise. Article 86 deals with the authority of judgments that have acquired the force of res judicata.
Anyone who believes the facts of their case contain something that could serve as a presumption for or against them is advised to consult a litigation lawyer.
Practical example
In a case between two neighbors in Riyadh over a water leak that damaged one of their walls, there was no witness to the source of the leak. The court used a scientific means to examine the path of the water and inferred from it a presumption that the source was the neighbor's house, and it explained in its judgment how this presumption points to the fact.
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 85 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Can a judge rule on the basis of presumptions?
Yes. The court may infer presumptions for the purpose of proof in cases where proof by witness testimony is allowed, provided it explains how they point to the fact.
Can presumptions be used in every case?
The presumptions the court infers apply in cases where proof by witness testimony is allowed.
Does the court use scientific means?
Yes. The court may use scientific means in inferring presumptions.
More articles on Presumptions, Custom and Res Judicata
- Article 84
Presumptions provided for by Sharia or by law spare the person in whose favor they are established from any other means of proof, and the other side may rebut them by any means unless a provision says otherwise.
القرائن المنصوص عليها شرعاً أو نظاماً تغني من قررت لمصلحته عن أي طريق آخر من طرق الإثبات، على أنه يجوز نقض دلالتها بأي طريق آخر؛ ما لم يوجد نص يقضي بغير ذلك.
- Article 86
The article provides that judgments that have acquired the force of res judicata are conclusive on what they decided and no evidence may be accepted to undo this, provided the parties, their capacities, and the right in object and cause are the same; the court applies it of its own motion.
الأحكام التي حازت حجية الأمر المقضي حجةٌ فيما فصلت فيه من الحقوق، ولا يجوز قبول دليل ينقض هذه الحجية. ولا تكون لتلك الأحكام هذه الحجية إلا في نزاع قام بين الخصو
- Article 87
The court is bound by a criminal judgment related to the case before it only on the facts it decided where that decision was necessary, and by an acquittal only if it rested on denying that the act is attributable to the accused.
لا تتقيد المحكمة بالحكم الجزائي المرتبط بالدعوى المعروضة عليها إلا في الوقائع التي فصل فيها ذلك الحكم، وكان فصله فيها ضرورياً، ومع ذلك لا تتقيد بالحكم الصادر بع
- Article 88
The article allows proof by custom or by the usual course of dealing between the parties, where no special provision or agreement between the parties applies and the custom does not contradict public order.
يجوز الإثبات بالعرف، أو العادة بين الخصوم، وذلك فيما لم يرد فيه نص خاص أو اتفاق بين الأطراف أو فيما لا يخالف النظام العام.
- Article 89
The article requires whoever relies on custom or the usual course of dealing between the parties to prove its existence at the time of the incident, and allows any party to challenge its proof and counter it with something stronger.
1- على من يتمسك بالعرف أو العادة بين الخصوم أن يثبت وجودهما وقت الواقعة. 2- لأي من الخصوم الطعن في ثبوت العرف أو العادة بين الخصوم، كما أن لهم معارضتهما بما هو
- Article 90
The article provides that, in case of conflict, the usual course of dealing between the parties and special custom take priority over general custom.
تقدم العادة بين الخصوم والعرف الخاص على العرف العام عند التعارض.
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.