Article 1 of the Saudi Civil Service Law
المادة 1 من نظام الخدمة المدنية · الباب الأول: الوظائف
The article makes merit the basis on which employees are selected to fill public posts.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
الجدارة هي الأساس في اختيار الموظفين لشغل الوظيفة العامة.
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 1 explained in plain English
This article sets the first rule in the Civil Service Law: that merit is the basis for choosing who fills a public post. This means that choosing among applicants for government jobs is based on how deserving the applicant is of the job and their ability to perform it, so merit is the standard by which a person's entitlement to the job is measured.
The article is short in wording but is a general principle from which the other provisions on filling posts proceed. It does not itself specify how merit is measured or what each job requires, but leaves that to other provisions, including Article 2, which provides that the Ministry of Civil Service classifies posts, including contract-line (budget item) posts, and that the method of classifying them and the requirements for filling them are determined under rules set by the Regulations.
What does this mean in practice?
- For the job applicant: entitlement to the job is tied to merit for it, under the requirements set by the classification rules and the Regulations.
- For government bodies: they must make merit the basis of their selection of those they appoint.
The article does not include the details of the selection procedures or ways to challenge them. Anyone who believes a selection was not based on merit and needs an assessment of their particular situation would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in administrative matters and civil service affairs.
Practical example
Sara and a colleague applied for an administrative job at a government body in Riyadh. Under this article, the basis for choosing one of them is merit, meaning her entitlement to the job according to the requirements for filling it, set under the classification rules and the Regulations.
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 1 of the Saudi Civil Service Law
What is the basis for selecting employees for government jobs?
Article 1 of the Civil Service Law provides that merit is the basis for selecting employees to fill a public post.
Where are the requirements for filling each job set?
According to Article 2, the Ministry of Civil Service classifies posts, and the method of classifying them and the requirements for filling them are set under rules determined by the Regulations.
Does the article explain how merit is measured?
No. The article states only the principle; the requirements for filling posts are set under the rules determined by the Regulations.
More articles on Filling a Public Position
- Article 2
The article charges the Ministry of Civil Service with classifying posts, including contract-line posts, and refers the classification method and filling requirements to rules set by the Regulations.
تصنف وزارة الخدمة المدنية الوظائف، بما فيها وظائف البنود، ويحدد أسلوب تصنيفها ومتطلبات شغلها وفق قواعد تحددها اللائحة
- Article 4
The article sets the general conditions for appointment to government posts, such as nationality, age, fitness, conduct, qualification, no criminal record and no disciplinary dismissal, with specific exceptions.
مع مراعاة ما تقضيه به الأنظمة الأخرى، يشترط فيمن يعين على الوظائف أن يكون: أ- سعودي الجنسية، ويجوز استثناء من ذلك استخدام غير السعودي بصفة مؤقتة في الوظائف التي
- Article 5
The article provides that posts in the Royal Courts are filled by royal order.
يتم شغل وظائف الدواوين الملكية بأمر ملكي.
- Article 6Amended (1438 AH)
The article identifies who issues the decision to fill posts according to their grade, and allows employees in grades 14 and 15 to be transferred within the body by the Minister's decision after the Prime Minister's approval.
يكون شغل وظائف المرتبتين (الرابعة عشرة) و(الخامسة عشرة) بقرار من مجلس الوزراء، ويكون شغل وظائف المرتبة (الثالثة عشرة) فما دون بقرار من الوزير المختص وفقاً للشرو
- Article 7Amended (1438 AH)
The article requires the Ministry of Civil Service to announce posts of the tenth grade and below and their equivalents and to subject applicants to an evaluation with set standards, and allows a body to announce posts after the two ministers agree.
تعلن وزارة الخدمة المدنية عن الوظائف التي في المرتبة (العاشرة) فما دون وما يعادلها في سلالم رواتب الخدمة المدنية، ويخضع جميع المتقدمين لشغل هذه الوظائف لتقويم ت
- Article 8
The article provides that the appointment decision of an employee who does not start his duties within 15 days of notification, without a legitimate excuse, is canceled and treated as if never made.
الموظف الذي لا يباشر مهمات وظيفته دون عذر مشروع خلال خمسة عشر (15) يومًا من تاريخ إبلاغه قرار التعيين يلغى قرار تعيينه ويعتبر كأن 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.