Article 32 of the Saudi Military Retirement Law
المادة 32 من نظام التقاعد العسكري
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 يتقاضاه قبل الإحالة بما في ذلك العلاوات والبدلات عن كل شهر، ولا تدخل هذه المدة – ضمن المدة المحسوبة في المعاش أو المكافأة.. ويكون صرف معاشه التقاعدي من تاريخ إحالته إلى التقاعد.
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 32 explained in plain English
This article deals with a short period after referral to retirement that a military member needs to hand over what is in his custody:
- Who decides: the Chief of the General Staff.
- Period: not exceeding two months.
- Purpose: handing over what is in his custody.
The military member's rights during this period:
- He is paid an award for each month equal to the salary he was receiving before referral, including increments and allowances. Note that this is an exception to the definition of salary in Article 2, which does not include increments and allowances; the article expressly includes them here.
- This period is not included in the period counted for the pension or award.
- His retirement pension is paid from the date of his referral to retirement, so staying on to hand over custody does not delay the start of his pension.
Article 33 provides that outside the armed forces the Minister specifies who has the powers of the Chief of the General Staff under this law, so in other bodies this power is exercised by the person the Minister specifies.
This article follows Article 31, which limits the retirement fund's obligation to pensions and contributions due under this law and the Military Retirement Law of 1380 AH. Someone kept on after referral to hand over his custody who wants to confirm his rights may contact his authority or consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
Colonel Khaled is referred to retirement while holding equipment that must be handed over, and the Chief of the General Staff decides to keep him on for two months. Under this article he is paid, for each month, an award equal to his salary before referral including increments and allowances, the two months are not counted toward his pension, and his pension is paid from the date of his referral.
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 32 of the Saudi Military Retirement Law
Can a military member be kept on after being referred to retirement?
The Chief of the General Staff may keep a person referred to retirement on for a period not exceeding two months to hand over what is in his custody.
What is paid to the member during the custody handover period?
An award is paid for each month equal to the salary he was receiving before referral, including increments and allowances.
Is the custody handover period counted toward retirement?
No. This period is not included in the period counted for the pension or award, and the pension is paid from the date of referral to retirement.
More articles on Retirement Age
- Article 11
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.
أ ) يحال الضابط إلى التقاعد إذا بلغ السن الآتي بيانها: الرتبةفى القوات المسلحة عدا الطيارينالطيارون ملازم وملازم أول4442 نقيب4846 رائد5048 مقدم5250 عقيد5452 عمي
- 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..
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.