Challenges of Evidence in Electronic Administrative Decisions in the Saudi System: An Analytical Study

This research examines the evidentiary challenges of electronic administrative decisions within the Saudi legal framework. It aims to clarify the legal nature of these decisions and the admissibility of associated digital evidence. The core problem lies in the challenges faced by the administrative judiciary in verifying decisions issued via automated systems and AI algorithms. Adopting an analytical and inductive approach, the study evaluates Saudi regulations, particularly the Law of Evidence and the Electronic Transactions Law. The findings reveal that the Saudi legal system has established a robust foundation granting electronic decisions full legal authority, provided technical requirements are met, asserting that the electronic medium does not alter the legal essence of the decision. The study recommends updating jurisdictional rules to explicitly include digital accreditation, enhancing the technical expertise of administrative judges in handling “algorithmic” errors, and addressing the complexities of proving “negative administrative decisions” in digital environments to ensure the protection of beneficiaries’ rights and maintain the balance between administrative efficiency and the principle of legality.