Article 31 of the Saudi Enlisted Personnel Service Law
المادة 31 من نظام خدمة الأفراد · الفصل السابع: النقل والترحيل
The article provides for returning a member working outside the Kingdom and his family to it by economy class air travel when his service ends, and transporting his body to the Kingdom at his family's request at his body's expense if he dies.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
في حالة انتهاء خدمة الفرد الذي يعمل خارج المملكة يتم ترحيله وعائلته إلى المملكة بالطائرة بالدرجة السياحية وفي حالة وفاة الفرد فيتم بطلب عائلته نقل جثمانه إلى المملكة على نفقة الجهة التابع لها.
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 31 explained in plain English
This article deals with two cases concerning a member who works outside the Kingdom:
Case one: end of service. If a member's service ends while he is working abroad, he and his family are returned to the Kingdom by air in economy class. The text uses the phrase "if the member's service ends" without mentioning any particular reason for its ending.
Case two: death. If the member dies, his body is transported to the Kingdom on two conditions stated in the text:
- That this is at the request of his family.
- And the transport is at the expense of the body to which the member belongs.
The meaning of requiring a request is that the transport takes place if the family wishes it, and the body bears its cost.
To determine the family meant, refer to Article 2, which defines the member's family as including the persons registered in his family register.
Note that the article does not expressly speak of returning the family after death; it provides for returning the member and his family on the end of service, and for transporting the body on death. A family that faces difficulty with these procedures may consult a lawyer specialized in administrative matters and military service affairs.
Practical example
The service of Sergeant Omar, who was working at a military attaché office abroad, has ended, so his body arranges to return him with his wife and children to the Kingdom by air in economy class. Had he died there, God forbid, his family could request that his body be transported to the Kingdom at his body's expense.
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 31 of the Saudi Enlisted Personnel Service Law
Who bears the cost of transporting a military member's body if he dies abroad?
The body is transported to the Kingdom at his family's request and at the expense of the body to which the member belongs.
Is the family of a member working abroad returned when his service ends?
Yes. He and his family are returned to the Kingdom by air in economy class.
More articles on Transfer, Relocation Allowance and Travel Tickets
- Article 27
The article prevents transferring a member from his unit or body except as work interests require and the post suits his rank and specialty, and allows him to request a transfer in writing for good reasons through his superior.
لا يجوز نقل الفرد من وحدته إلى أي وحده أخرى أو من جهة إلى أخرى الا بناء على مقتضيات مصلحة العمل شريطة أن تتلائم الوظيفة المنقول إليها الفرد مع رتبته واختصاصه وي
- Article 28Amended by M/28
The article provides for a relocation allowance to a member under the Implementing Regulations on first appointment, transfer between towns or abroad, scholarship, attachment of more than six months and secondment of three months or more.
يصرف للفرد بدل ترحيل وفقاً للأحكام التي تحددها اللائحة التنفيذية، وذلك عند تعيينه لأول مرة في الخدمة، أو نقله من بلد إلى آخر داخل المملكة، أو نقله من داخل الممل
- Article 29
The article sets out the cases in which a member alone is carried on armed forces aircraft both ways, or provided two economy tickets or their value, such as secondment, treatment, investigation and field leave.
يتم اركاب الفرد بمفرده ذهاباً واياباً على احدى طائرات القوات المسلحة أو تؤمن له تذكرتا ركاب بالدرجة السياحية بالطائرات أو يصرف له ما يعادل قيمة التذكرة السياحية
- Article 30
The article sets out the cases in which a member and his family members are carried both ways, or provided economy tickets or their value, such as working abroad, long secondment, scholarship and transfer abroad.
يتم اركاب الفرد وافراد عائلته ذهاباً واياباً على احدى طائرات القوات المسلحة أو تؤمن لهم تذاكر الاركاب بالدرجة السياحية بالطائرة أو يصرف له ما يعادل قيمة التذاكر
- Article 32
The article gives a member on annual leave the right to a half-price round-trip ticket for himself, his wife and children on Saudi Airlines inside the Kingdom once a year.
يحق للفرد الذي يتمتع بإجازة سنوية أن يحصل على تذكرة اركاب ذهاباً واياباً بنصف الأجرة له ولزوجته وأولاده على طائرات مؤسسة الخطوط الجوية العربية السعودية وفي حدود
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.