Article 11 of the Saudi Military Retirement Law
المادة 11 من نظام التقاعد العسكري
The article sets the age at which officers are retired by rank, with a lower age for pilots, and the age at which enlisted personnel are retired by rank, with the rank of general and above retired by royal order.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ ) يحال الضابط إلى التقاعد إذا بلغ السن الآتي بيانها:
الرتبةفى القوات المسلحة عدا الطيارينالطيارون
ملازم وملازم أول4442
نقيب4846
رائد5048
مقدم5250
عقيد5452
عميد5654
لواء5856
أما الضباط من رتبة فريق فأعلى فلا تحدد لهم سن للإحالة إلى التقاعد بل يحالون بأمر ملكي بناء على اقتراح الوزير.
ب ) يحال الفرد إلى التقاعد إذا بلغ السن الآتي بيانها:
جندى وجندى أول44
عريف46
وكيل رقيب48
رقيب و رقيب أول50
رئيس رقباء52
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 11 explained in plain English
This article sets the statutory age for referral to retirement by rank:
Paragraph (a): officers (age in the armed forces other than pilots / age for pilots):
- Second lieutenant and first lieutenant: 44 / 42.
- Captain: 48 / 46.
- Major: 50 / 48.
- Lieutenant colonel: 52 / 50.
- Colonel: 54 / 52.
- Brigadier: 56 / 54.
- Major general: 58 / 56.
As for officers of the rank of lieutenant general and above, no age for referral to retirement is set for them; they are retired by royal order on the proposal of the Minister.
Paragraph (b): enlisted personnel
- Private and private first class: 44.
- Corporal: 46.
- Sergeant (wakil raqib): 48.
- Sergeant and staff sergeant: 50.
- Sergeant major: 52.
Note that the age for pilots is two years lower than for others in each of the officer ranks listed.
Article 12 allows, by order of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces on the request of the Minister, suspension of the application of this article for a specific period or periods. Anyone who wants to know when he will be retired in his particular case may refer to his military body or consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.
Practical example
Captain Faisal is an officer in the armed forces and is not a pilot, and his colleague Captain Omar is a pilot. Under this article Faisal is retired on reaching 48 years of age, and Omar on reaching 46 years, unless an order is issued suspending the application of this article.
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 11 of the Saudi Military Retirement Law
What is the retirement age for a military sergeant?
A sergeant and a staff sergeant are retired on reaching 50 years of age.
Is the retirement age lower for military pilots?
Yes. In each of the officer ranks from second lieutenant to major general, the age for pilots is two years lower; for example a colonel is 54 and a colonel who is a pilot is 52.
What is the retirement age for the rank of lieutenant general?
No age for referral to retirement is set for the rank of lieutenant general and above; they are retired by royal order on the proposal of the Minister.
More articles on Retirement Age
- Article 12
The article allows the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on the Minister's request, to suspend the application of Article 11 on retirement age for specific periods.
يجوز بأمر من القائد الأعلى للقوات المسلحة بناء على طلب الوزير وقف العمل بأحكام المادة (11) لفترة أو فترات معينة..
- Article 13Amended (1423 AH)
An officer may be kept on after retirement age for two years, extendable to four; a medical officer for up to ten years but not past 65; a technical person for five years, extendable by five.
أ ) يجوز إبقاء الضابط في الخدمة بعد بلوغه السن المحددة للإحالة إلى التقاعد لمدة سنتين إذا كان بقاؤه ضروريًّا لصالح العمل، ويتم ذلك بقرار من الوزير بناء على توصي
- Article 14
Age is determined by birth certificate or civil status record; if the day of birth is unknown, age runs from the first day of the seventh month of the Hijri year of birth.
يعتمد في تقدير السن على شهادة الميلاد أو حفيظة النفوس، وإذا كان يوم الميلاد مجهولًا فيحسب العمر من اليوم الأول من الشهر السابع للعام الهجري الذي ولد فيه..
- Article 32
The Chief of the General Staff may keep a retiree on for up to two months to hand over his custody, with an award equal to his salary and allowances; the period is not counted and the pension runs from the referral date.
يجوز لرئيس هيئة الأركان العامة إبقاء المحال إلى التقاعد مدة لا تتجاوز شهرين لتسليم ما بعهدته، وفي هذه الحالة تصرف له مكافأة عن هذه المدة تعادل راتبه الذي كان يت
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.