Article 99 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 99 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الثاني: اليمين الحاسمة
The article allows the plaintiff to drop his evidence and tender the oath directly, bars proving an oath false once it is taken, and preserves a right to compensation if its falsity is established by a criminal judgment.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للمدعي إسقاط بينته وتوجيه اليمين للمدعى عليه مباشرة.
2- للمدعي توجيه اليمين للمدعى عليه قبل إحضار بينته المعلومة، ويعد ذلك إسقاطاً منه لبينته؛ بعد إعلام المحكمة له بذلك.
3- مع مراعاة ما ورد في الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة، لا يجوز للخصم أن يثبت كذب اليمين بعد أن يؤديها الخصم الذي وجهت إليه أو ردت عليه، على أنه إذا ثبت كذب اليمين بحكم جزائي، فإن للخصم الذي أصابه ضرر منها أن يطالب بالتعويض، دون إخلال بما قد يكون له مـن حق الاعتراض على الحكم الذي صدر عليه بسبب اليمين الكاذبة.
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 99 explained in plain English
This article deals with the relationship of the oath to evidence, and with what follows from the oath after it is taken.
- Dropping the evidence: the plaintiff may abandon his evidence and tender the oath to the defendant directly.
- Tendering the oath before producing the evidence: if the plaintiff tenders the oath before he produces his known evidence, that is treated as his dropping his evidence, but on condition that the court informs him of this. So the plaintiff is not surprised by the loss of his evidence without notice.
- No proof that the oath was false: after the opponent has taken the oath tendered or referred back to him, his adversary may not try to prove that it was false, subject to the provision of paragraph 2.
There is an important exception to the last rule: if the falsity of the oath is established by a criminal judgment, the opponent who was harmed by it may claim compensation, without prejudice to any right he may have to object to the judgment issued against him because of the false oath.
These provisions come in the context of Article 98, under which whoever swears has judgment given in his favor, which is why choosing to tender the oath instead of presenting evidence is a decision of great consequence. They are also connected to Article 100, which sets out the powers of the guardian, the executor, and the endowment supervisor regarding the oath.
Anyone considering giving up his evidence in favor of an oath, or harmed by an oath he believes was false, is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in litigation and civil matters.
Practical example
Fahad had two witnesses to a debt owed to him, but he demanded his opponent's oath before producing them, and the court informed him that this is treated as dropping his evidence. The opponent swore and judgment was given in his favor, but a criminal judgment later established that his oath was false, so Fahad became entitled to claim compensation for the harm.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 99 of Law of Evidence?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Unwan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 99 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
May a plaintiff give up his evidence and demand the oath?
Yes. The plaintiff may drop his evidence and tender the oath to the defendant directly.
What happens if I demand the oath before producing my witnesses?
That is treated as dropping your known evidence, after the court informs you of it.
Can it be proved that the opponent swore falsely?
Proving an oath false is not allowed after it is taken, but if its falsity is established by a criminal judgment, the injured party may claim compensation without prejudice to his right to object to the judgment.
More articles on The Oath
- 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 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 31
The Article explains when merchants' books are binding for or against their owner, that they are not binding on non-merchants, and when the court may administer the supplementary oath based on them.
1- لا تكون دفاتر التجار حجة على غير التجار، ومع ذلك فإن البيانات المثبتة فيها تصلح أساساً يجيز للمحكمة أن توجه اليمين المتممة لمن قوي جانبه من الطرفين، وذلك فيم
- Article 35
The Article sets out when the court orders the opponent to produce the requested document, and the consequences if he refuses to produce it or denies that it exists.
1- إذا أقر الخصم أن المحرَّر في حوزته أو سكت، أو أثبت الطالب صحة طلبه، أمرت المحكمة بتقديم المحرَّر. 2- إذا امتنع الخصم عن تقديم المحرَّر المطلوب بعد إمهاله مرة
- Article 51
Where proof must be in writing, a judicial admission, a decisive oath, or a beginning of written proof supported by another means of proof may take its place, and the Article defines this beginning of proof.
1- يجوز في الأحوال التي يجب فيها الإثبات بالكتابة أن يحل محلها الإقرار القضائي، أو اليمين الحاسمة، أو مبدأ الثبوت بالكتابة المعزز بطريق إثبات آخر؛ وذلك فيما لم
- Article 74
The Article provides that testimony is given orally and may be given in writing with the court's permission, and that the court may administer an oath to the witness when necessary and assess the effect of his refusal to swear.
1- تؤدى الشهادة شفاهاً. ويجوز أداؤها كتابة بإذن المحكمة. 2- يجوز للمحكمة تحليف الشاهد عند الاقتضاء، وإذا امتنع عن الحلف فتقدر المحكمة أثر ذلك.
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.