Article 110 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 110 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: الاستيداع
The article sets the seniority of an officer returning from standby: he keeps it, except where standby was for the reasons in paragraphs (c) and (d) of Article 109 and he returns after a year, when it runs from the decision returning him.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا أعيد أحد الضباط إلى الخدمة وكان قد أحيل إلى الاستيداع لغير الأسباب المنصوص عليها في الفقرتين (ج،د) من المادة (109) يعود إلى رتبته التي كان يشغلها قبل إحالته إلى الاستيداع محتفظاً بأقدميته أما إذا كانت الإحالة إلى الاستيداع للأسباب المنصوص عليها في الفقرتين (ج،د) من المادة (109) فإذا أعيد إلى الخدمة قبل مضي سنة على استيداعه يعود إلى الرتبة التي كان بها محتفظاً بأقدميته فإذا كانت الإعادة بعد مضي سنة على استيداعه عاد إلى الرتبة التي كان بها وتكون أقدميته من يوم صدور القرار بالإعادة من الاستيداع.
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 110 explained in plain English
This article deals with the position of an officer returning from standby, and distinguishes according to the reason for standby set out in Article 109:
First: standby for reasons other than paragraphs (c) and (d), that is, because of medical unfitness (a) or at his own request (b):
- He returns to the rank he held, keeping his seniority.
Second: standby for the reasons in paragraphs (c) and (d), that is, accusation of a crime or failure in the promotion exam:
- If he is returned before a year has passed since his placement on standby: he returns to his rank keeping his seniority.
- If he is returned after a year has passed: he returns to his rank, but his seniority runs from the day the decision returning him is issued.
The practical meaning is that in the first case the officer loses nothing of his seniority, while in the second the period is decisive: if standby lasted more than a year, he loses his former precedence and his seniority starts afresh from the date of return.
Note that the rank itself does not change in any of the cases; the effect falls on seniority only. An officer who has returned from standby and has a dispute over how his seniority is calculated may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
Major Tariq was placed on standby because he was accused in a case, and was then returned to service after eighteen months. He returns with the rank of major, but his seniority in the rank starts from the date of the decision returning him, because his return was after a year had passed since his standby.
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 110 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Does an officer keep his seniority after returning from standby?
Yes, if his standby was for reasons other than paragraphs (c) and (d) of Article 109, or was for them and he was returned before a year had passed.
What happens to an officer's seniority if he returns after a year of standby because of an accusation or an exam?
He returns to his rank and his seniority runs from the day the decision returning him from standby is issued.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Placement on Reserve and End of Officer Service
- Article 8
The article puts a second lieutenant on probation for two years, then a third year in another unit if his confidential reports are unsatisfactory, after which he is dispensed with, without rights, if they remain so.
يعتبر الضابط المعين في رتبة ملازم تحت الاختبار لمدة سنتين فإذا كانت تقاريره السرية غير مرضية ينقل إلى وحدة أخرى لمدة سنة ثالثة فإذا كانت تقاريره عند نهايتها غير
- Article 22Amended (1423 AH)
The article ends the service of an officer of the rank of major or below who has spent four years beyond the period in Article 18 without meeting the promotion conditions in Article 21.
إذا أمضى الضابط من رتبة رائد فما دون أرب سنوات في رتبته بالإضافة إلى المدة المقررة في المادة (18) من هذه النظام ولم تتوافر شروط الترقية المنصوص عليها في المادة
- Article 25Amended (1423 AH)
The article retires a lieutenant colonel, colonel or brigadier after six years in the rank without promotion: in the next rank if recommended for promotion, and in his own rank if not, with the service of a doctor officer extendable.
أ- إذا أمضى الضابط الموصى بترقيته من رتبة مقدم وعقيد وعميد مدة ست سنوات في رتبته ولم يرق أو بلغ سن التقاعد في رتبته قبل ذلك يحال إلى التقاعد بالرتبة التي تلي رت
- Article 26Amended (1403 AH)
The article retires a major general who has spent three years without an order extending his service, and allows extension for renewable periods by decision of the Supreme Commander unless he reaches retirement age.
إذا أمضى اللواء ثلاث سنوات في الخدمة ولم يصدر امر بتمديد خدمته فيحال للتقاعد ويجوز مد خدمته ستين قابلة للتجديد عدة مرات وذلك بقرار من القائد الأعلى للقوات المسل
- Article 109
The article regulates placing an officer on standby by the Minister's decision on the recommendation of the Senior Officers Committee for four reasons: medical unfitness, his own request, being accused of a crime, and failing the promotion exam, with a three-year limit for the last.
يحال الضابط إلى الاستيداع من قبل الوزير بناءً على توصية لجنة الضباط العليا ويحدد في القرار مدة الإحالة إلى الاستيداع وذلك وفقاً لما يأتي : أ- تتم الإحالة إلى ال
- Article 111
The article provides that an officer placed on standby remains subject to military discipline and may not engage in trade or any other work except with the Minister's written permission.
يخضع الضابط إلى الاستيداع لأحكام الضبط والربط العسكري ولا يجوز أن يشتغل بالتجارة أو أي عمل آخر إلا بإذن كتابي من الوزير.
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.