Article 9 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 9 من نظام الإثبات · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
The court may withdraw from an evidence procedure it ordered, if it states reasons in the session record, and may decline to adopt its result, if it states reasons in the judgment.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للمحكمة أن تعدل عما أمرت به من إجراءات الإثبات، بشرط أن تبيّن أسباب العدول في محضر الجلسة.
2- للمحكمة ألا تأخذ بنتيجة إجراء الإثبات، بشرط أن تبيّن أسباب ذلك في حكمها.
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 9 explained in plain English
This article gives the court flexibility in dealing with evidence procedures, with a basic safeguard: stating the reasons:
- Withdrawing from the procedure: the court may withdraw from evidence procedures it ordered, provided it states the reasons for withdrawing in the session record.
- Not adopting the result of the procedure: the court may decline to adopt the result of an evidence procedure, provided it states the reasons for this in its judgment.
The difference between the two cases is where the reasons are stated: for withdrawal, the reasons are stated in the session record, and for not adopting the result, they are stated in the judgment.
In practice this means that the court's decision to order a particular evidence procedure does not guarantee a party that the procedure will be carried out or that the court will adopt its result, but the text requires the reason to be stated for withdrawing or for not adopting the result, if that happens.
The article is linked to Article 8, which requires the court to set a date for the evidence procedures it decides to carry out and allows them to be carried out in the parties' absence once they have been notified of the date, and to Article 10, which provides that any evidence procedure taken electronically is subject to the provisions set out in this law.
To assess the reasons the court gave in your case and what can be done about them, you can consult a lawyer specializing in civil and commercial cases.
Practical example
In a claim for supply payments owed, the court ordered an evidence procedure and then decided to withdraw from it, stating the reason in the session record. In another case the procedure was carried out, but the court did not adopt its result and stated its reasons in its judgment.
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 9 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
May the court go back on an evidence procedure it ordered?
Yes. It may withdraw from it, provided it states the reasons for withdrawing in the session record.
Is the court bound by the result of an evidence procedure?
No. It may decline to adopt the result of an evidence procedure, provided it states its reasons in its judgment.
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.