Parliament has unanimously approved a draft amendment to the Evidence in Civil and Commercial Matters Law that would double the financial threshold for proving civil claims through witness testimony from BD500 to BD1,000.
The legislation, originally proposed by the Shura Council, has now been referred back to the upper chamber for review following its approval by MPs.
Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Nawaf Al Maawada was present during the debate yesterday.
Parliament’s legislative and legal affairs committee chairman MP Mahmood Fardan said the reform was long overdue, noting that the current threshold dates back to 1996 and no longer aligns with today’s economic reality.
“The existing limit no longer reflects the nature and value of civil transactions today,” Mr Fardan told MPs.
“Raising it to BD1,000 will simplify litigation procedures and help individuals prove their rights in a fairer and more efficient way.”
Under the proposed amendment, individuals will be allowed to rely on witness testimony and other means of proof for non-commercial civil transactions valued at up to BD1,000.
Claims exceeding that amount will continue to require written evidence, unless both parties agree otherwise.
Mr Fardan stressed that the reform is designed to support ordinary citizens, particularly those pursuing smaller claims.
“This amendment directly benefits people who may not always document minor transactions in writing,” he said.
“It reduces barriers to justice without compromising legal certainty.”
“We were careful to strike a balance,” Mr Fardan said. “Our aim is to facilitate access to justice while preventing abuse and preserving the reliability of written contracts.”
Committee rapporteur MP Ali Al Dossary said the change responds directly to inflation, higher service costs and the overall growth in the value of civil dealings over the past three decades.
“The BD500 ceiling has become impractical,” Mr Al Dossary said.
“Many everyday transactions now exceed this amount, yet they are often conducted without formal written contracts. This amendment removes an unnecessary procedural obstacle.”
The Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry supported the amendment, noting that it is consistent with comparative legal frameworks and reflects the declining reliance on cash transactions, as well as the evolving nature of civil and commercial dealings.
Despite the higher threshold, the draft law maintains key safeguards to prevent misuse.
Witness testimony will remain inadmissible in cases that contradict written evidence, involve partial claims of rights that must legally be proven in writing, or where a claimant initially demands more than BD1,000 and later reduces the claim to fall within the new limit.
&uuid=(email))