Article 52 of the Saudi Enlisted Personnel Service Law
المادة 52 من نظام خدمة الأفراد · الفصل الثاني عشر: الاجازات
The article allows granting a member, at his request, exceptional leave inside or outside the Kingdom of no more than four months over his whole service, without any monthly entitlement, after exhausting his annual leave.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
الإجازة الاستثنائية: يجوز منح الفرد بناء على طلبه اجازه استثنائية داخل المملكة او خارجها لمدة لا تزيد عن أربعة أشهر طوال مدة خدمته بدون أي مستحق شهري وذلك بعد استنفاذ الاجازات السنوية المستحقة له بموجب النظام.
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 52 explained in plain English
This article regulates exceptional leave, which is leave without pay. Its conditions as stated are:
- At the member's request: it is granted at his request.
- Place: inside or outside the Kingdom.
- Duration: not more than four months over the whole period of his service.
- No entitlements: it is without any monthly entitlement.
- Annual leave exhausted first: it is granted only after exhausting the annual leave due to him under the Law.
The most important limit is that the maximum is four months in the whole period of service, not in each year. A member who used four months at the start of his service no longer has a balance of this leave.
The condition of exhausting annual leave also means a member cannot request exceptional leave while he still has a balance of annual leave. The phrase "without any monthly entitlement" means no salary or monthly entitlements are paid to him during this leave.
The article does not state the effect of this leave on promotion, increments or the counting of service, so no ruling on that is drawn from it. Granting is permissive in the word "may". Anyone considering requesting this leave may consult a lawyer specialized in administrative matters and military service affairs.
Practical example
Sergeant Wael needs to accompany his father during long treatment outside the Kingdom, and he has exhausted his annual leave. He may request exceptional leave for three months without any monthly entitlement, and only one month of this leave remains for the rest of his service.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 52 of the Saudi Enlisted Personnel Service Law
How long is exceptional leave for a military member?
Not more than four months over the whole period of his service.
Is a salary paid during exceptional leave?
No. It is without any monthly entitlement.
Can exceptional leave be taken while there is a balance of annual leave?
No. The article requires that it be after exhausting the annual leave due to him under the Law.
More articles on Leave for Military Personnel
- 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
- Article 46Amended by M/28
The article lists the types of leave granted to a member: annual, field, casual, exceptional, sick, exam leave and study accompaniment leave.
الإجازات التي تُمنح للفرد هي: أ- إجازة سنوية. ب- إجازة ميدانية. ج- إجازة عرضية. د- إجازة استثنائية. هـ- إجازة مرضية. و- إجازة أداء الامتحان الدراسي. ز- إجازة مر
- Article 47Amended by M/28
The article provides for annual leave of thirty days for a member, not granted the first time before 11 months from appointment, which may be combined up to 60 days a year, extended by 15 days in necessity, and postponed for the public interest.
أ- يستحق الفرد إجازة سنوية مدتها ثلاثون يوما في السنة. ب- لا يجوز منح الفرد إجازة سنوية للمرة الأولى قبل مضي أحد عشر شهرا من بدء تعيينه. ج- يجوز ضم الإجازات الس
- Article 48
The article provides for paying the salaries of members on annual leave in advance, including all allowances and increments, with the subsistence allowance paid in cash.
تصرف رواتب الافراد المجازين في إجازة سنوية مقدما بما في ذلك جميع البدلات والعلاوات كما يصرف بدل الاعاشة نقداً.
- Article 49
The article allows a member to be recalled from annual leave for work circumstances, compensating him with the value of round-trip economy air tickets for him and his family if he took them, and keeping the rest of his leave.
يجوز استدعاء الفرد من اجازته السنوية وتقديرها لأسباب تقتضيها ظروف العمل وإذا استدعى الفرد من اجازته السنوية ولم يكن قد استمتع فيها فيعوض بما يعادل قيمة التذاكر
- Article 50
The article allows granting a member, for emergency circumstances, casual leave of no more than ten days in one year, which lapses at the end of the Hijri year.
الإجازة العرضية: يجوز لظروف طارئه منح الفرد إجازة عرضيه لا تزيد مدتها على عشرة أيام في السنة الواحدة وتسقط بانتهاء السنة الهجرية.
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.