Article 35 of the Saudi Military Retirement Law
المادة 35 من نظام التقاعد العسكري
The Council of Ministers has the right to interpret the Military Retirement Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لمجلس الوزراء حق تفسير هذا 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 35 explained in plain English
This is the last article of the law, and it specifies the body competent to interpret its provisions, which is the Council of Ministers.
This means that if there is ambiguity or disagreement over how to understand a provision of the law, the binding interpretation on the matter belongs to the Council of Ministers under this article.
The importance of this provision is that the Military Retirement Law contains detailed provisions touching the rights of military members and their families, such as the cases of entitlement to a pension, how it is calculated and who the beneficiaries are, and applying some of them may need clarification of what is meant. Having a specific body for interpretation prevents conflicting understandings among the different bodies that apply the law.
The article does not state how an interpretation is requested or who may bring it to the Council of Ministers, and it does not concern any particular individual case; it sets out a general power.
It follows Article 34, which provides that this law repeals the previous military retirement law. The two articles together close the law: the first settles its relationship with the previous law, and the second specifies who interprets its provisions.
Someone who has a dispute over applying a provision of the law to his case is best advised to contact the competent retirement authority, and may consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
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 35 of the Saudi Military Retirement Law
Who has the right to interpret the Military Retirement Law?
The Council of Ministers has the right to interpret this law.
Which article comes before the interpretation article?
Article 34, which provides that this law repeals the previous military retirement law.
More articles on Scope of the Law and Retirement Contributions
- Article 1
The article names the law the Military Retirement Law and provides that its provisions apply to all Saudi military personnel.
يسمى هذا النظام نظام التقاعد العسكري وتسري أحكامه على جميع العسكريين السعوديين.
- Article 2
The article defines the terms of the Military Retirement Law, including Minister, military forces, military person, officer, enlisted person, retiree, pensioner, beneficiary, salary, pension, award, the Authority and the Fund.
يقصد بالكلمات الآتية أينما وردت في النظام المعاني المذكورة تجاهها ما لم يرد النص صراحة أو بدل السياق على خلافها.. الوزير: وزير الداخلية، ووزير الدفاع، ووزير الح
- Article 3
The article provides for deducting 9% of a military person's salary monthly for the retirement fund, with the Government paying the equivalent of 13%, and allows the Council of Ministers to adjust the Government's share.
يقتطع شهريًّا نسبة ( 9% ) من راتب العسكري وتدفع إلى المصلحة لحساب الصندوق وتدفع الحكومة بواسطة وزارة المالية والاقتصاد الوطني ما يقابل نسبة ( 13% ) من راتب العس
- Article 30
A deficit in the retirement fund is settled in the way set by the board and approved by the Council of Ministers; if there is a surplus, new benefits may be granted on the board's recommendation and Council approval.
إذا تبين وجود عجز في صندوق التقاعد فتتم تسويته وفق الطريقة التي يحددها مجلس الإدارة ويوافق عليها مجلس الوزراء ، أما إذا تبين وجود فائض يسمح بإضافة مزايا جديدة ل
- Article 31
The Fund is bound only by pensions and contributions due under this law and the Military Retirement Law of 1380 AH; the Ministry of Finance bears what fell due under earlier laws.
لا يلتزم صندوق التقاعد إلا بالمعاشات والعائدات التقاعدية التي تكون قد استحقت وفقًا لأحكام هذا النظام و نظام التقاعد العسكري لعام 1380 هـ، أما المعاشات والتعويضا
- Article 33
Outside the armed forces, the Minister specifies who holds the powers of the Chief of the General Staff and the head of the Army Administration Authority under the Military Retirement Law.
في غير القوات المسلحة يحدد الوزير مَن له صلاحيات رئيس هيئة الأركان العامة ورئيس هيئة إدارة الجيش في هذا النظام.
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.