Article 65 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 65 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الخامس: إجراءات الجلسات ونظامها
The article makes the proceedings for hearing the claim and the pleading written while allowing the parties to be heard orally, and requires the court to give litigants suitable time limits to review documents.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
1- تكون إجراءات نظر الدعوى والمرافعة فيها كتابة. وللمحكمة - من تلقاء نفسها أو بناءً على طلب أحد الخصوم - أن تسمع ما لدى الأطراف مشافهة. وتثبت المحكمة ذلك في محضر الجلسة.
2- على المحكمة أن تعطي الخصوم المهل المناسبة، للاطلاع على المستندات، كلما اقتضت الحال ذلك
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 65 explained in plain English
This article sets the method of pleading before the court. It was amended by Royal Decree No. (M/78) dated 10/9/1442 AH, and contains two rules:
1. Writing is the rule:
- The proceedings for hearing the claim and pleading in it are in writing, that is, through written memoranda and requests.
- The court may, on its own motion or at the request of a litigant, hear what the parties have to say orally.
- If that happens, the court must record it in the hearing minutes.
2. Time limits to review documents:
- The court must give the litigants suitable time limits to review the documents whenever the situation requires.
The second rule protects the right of defense, so a litigant is not surprised by documents he is asked to answer without being given enough time to study them. The article did not specify the length of these time limits, but made them suitable according to the case.
After this comes Article 66, which requires the judge to ask the claimant what is needed to settle the statement of his claim before questioning the defendant.
To prepare clear written memoranda, you can seek the help of a lawyer specializing in litigation and court procedure.
Practical example
In a commercial claim, the claimant submitted a memorandum with many documents attached shortly before the hearing. The defendant is entitled to ask for time to review them, and the court must give him a suitable time limit if the situation requires. He may also ask the court to hear what he has to say orally, and if it agrees it records that in the hearing minutes.
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 65 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Is pleading in the courts written or oral?
The rule is that the proceedings for hearing the claim and the pleading are in writing, and the court may hear what the parties have to say orally on its own motion or at a litigant's request.
Am I entitled to ask for time to review my opponent's documents?
The court must give the litigants suitable time limits to review the documents whenever the situation requires.
Is what is said orally at the hearing recorded?
Yes. The court records what it heard from the parties orally in the hearing minutes.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/78 — 10/9/1442 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/78) وتاريخ 1442/9/10هـ، لتصبح بالنص الآتي:
" 1- تكون إجراءات نظر الدعوى والمرافعة فيها كتابة. وللمحكمة - من تلقاء نفسها أو بناءً على طلب أحد الخصوم - أن تسمع ما لدى الأطراف مشافهة. وتثبت المحكمة ذلك في محضر الجلسة.
2- على المحكمة أن تعطي الخصوم المهل المناسبة، للاطلاع على المستندات، كلما اقتضت الحال ذلك ".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
تكون المرافعة شفهية، على أن ذلك لا يمنع من تقديم الأقوال أو الدفوع في مذكرات مكتوبة تتبادل صورها بين الخصوم، ويحفظ أصلها في ملف القضية، مع الإشارة إليها في الضبط. وعلى المحكمة أن تعطي الخصوم المهل المناسبة للاطلاع على المستندات والرد عليها كلما اقتضت الحال ذلك.
More articles on Hearing Procedures
- Article 6
Article 6 requires a clerk to attend with the judge at hearings and in all case procedures to draft the record and sign it with him, and lets the judge do so himself if the clerk cannot attend.
يجب أن يحضر مع القاضي في الجلسات وفي جميـع إجراءات الدعوى كاتب يحرر محضر الجلسة ويوقعه مع القاضي، وإذا تعذرحضور الكاتب فللقاضي تولي الإجراء وتحرير المحضر.
- Article 23
The article makes Arabic the official language of the courts, requires hearing non-Arabic speakers through an interpreter, and requires an approved translation from a licensed office for foreign-language papers.
اللغة العربية هي اللغة الرسمية للمحاكم؛ وتسمع المحكمة أقوال الخصوم والشهود ونحوهم من غير الناطقين باللغة العربية عن طريق مترجم، وتقدم ترجمة معتمدة من مكتب مرخص
- Article 48
If the court has set a hearing for two litigants and they appear at a time other than the one set and ask for their dispute to be heard, the court must grant their request if possible.
إذا عينت المحكمة جلسة لشخصين متداعيين، ثم حضرا في غير الوقت المعين وطلبا النظر في خصومتهما، فعليها أن تجيب هذا الطلب إن أمكن.
- Article 53
If it appears to the court that the agent asks for extensions too often on the pretext of consulting his principal in order to stall, it may require the principal himself or another agent.
إذا ظهر للمحكمة من أحد الوكلاء كثرة الاستمهالات بحجة سؤال موكله بقصد المماطلة، فلها حق طلب الموكل بنفسه لإتمام المرافعة أو توكيل وكيل آخر.
- Article 59
Someone who attends thirty minutes before the set end of the hearing is not considered absent if the hearing has not convened, and someone who attends while the hearing is still in session is considered present.
في تطبيق الأحكام السابقة، لا يعد غائبًا- والجلسة لم تنعقد- من حضر قبل الموعد المحدد لانتهاء الجلسة بثلاثين دقيقة، على أنه إذا حضر والجلسة لا زالت منعقدة فيعد حا
- Article 61
The number of judges required by law must attend the pleading hearings; if short, the court president assigns someone to complete it, and if that is not possible the president of the Supreme Judicial Council does.
يجب أن يحضر جلسات المرافعة في القضية العدد اللازم نظامًا من القضاة، فإن لم يتوافر العدد اللازم فيكلف رئيس المحكمة أحد قضاتها لإكمال النصاب، فإن تعذر ذلك فيكلف ر
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.