Article 86 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 86 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الثاني: حجية الأمر المقضي
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 الخصوم أنفسهم دون أن تتغير صفاتهم، وتعلق بالحق ذاته محلاً وسبباً. وتقضي المحكمة بهذه الحجية من تلقاء نفسها.
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 86 explained in plain English
This article deals with the principle of res judicata, the principle that prevents the same dispute from being brought again after it has been decided.
First: the effect of res judicata.
- Judgments that have acquired the force of res judicata are conclusive on the rights they decided.
- No evidence may be accepted to undo this effect.
Second: the conditions for res judicata. A judgment has this effect only if all of the following conditions are met:
- The dispute is between the same parties.
- Their capacities have not changed.
- The dispute concerns the same right in both object and cause.
Third: the role of the court. The court applies this effect of its own motion, so its application does not depend on one of the parties invoking it.
In practice, once a judgment has acquired this effect, neither party can bring the same dispute again against the same opponent, in the same capacity, over the same right in object and cause, nor can either present evidence to undo what the judgment decided. If one of these elements differs, such as the parties, their capacities, or the object or cause of the right, this effect does not arise. The article does not state when a judgment acquires this effect.
This article is connected to Article 87, which sets out how far the court is bound by a criminal judgment related to the case before it. Anyone who has obtained or had a judgment entered against them and wants to know its effect on a new dispute is advised to consult a litigation lawyer.
Practical example
Hamad sued his neighbor claiming ownership of a plot of land by purchase, and a judgment that acquired the force of res judicata dismissed his claim. If Hamad brought the same claim again against the same neighbor, in the same capacity, for the same land and on the same cause, the court would apply the effect of the earlier judgment of its own motion and would not accept evidence to undo it.
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 86 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Can the same case be brought again after a judgment?
If a judgment has acquired the force of res judicata, it is conclusive on what it decided and no evidence is accepted to undo it, where the dispute is between the same parties in the same capacities and concerns the same right in object and cause.
What are the conditions for res judicata?
The dispute must be between the same parties without a change in their capacities, and must concern the same right in both object and cause.
Does a party have to invoke the earlier judgment?
No. The court applies this effect of its own motion.
Can new evidence be presented to undo a judgment with res judicata effect?
No. No evidence may be accepted to undo the res judicata effect of what the judgment decided.
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 85
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.
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 استن
- 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.