Article 111 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 111 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: الاستيداع
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يخضع الضابط إلى الاستيداع لأحكام الضبط والربط العسكري ولا يجوز أن يشتغل بالتجارة أو أي عمل آخر إلا بإذن كتابي من الوزير.
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 111 explained in plain English
This article sets out the officer's position during standby in two respects:
First: subject to discipline. An officer placed on standby remains subject to the provisions of military discipline. Standby does not mean that he leaves military status or is freed from discipline.
Second: a ban on work. An officer on standby may not engage in trade or any other work, except with the written permission of the Minister.
The practical meaning is that an officer who has been temporarily kept away from actual service because of standby cannot start a commercial activity or accept another job on his own; he needs permission, and the permission must be written and issued by the Minister. Oral permission, or permission from another authority, does not meet the condition of the text.
The phrase "any other work" is wide, so it includes non-commercial work as well. The Minister, under Article 2, is the Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General.
The article does not state the penalty for a violation. An officer who wishes to work during his standby must request written permission from the Minister, and may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
Captain Naif was placed on standby at his own request and was offered a job at a private company. He may not accept this job except after obtaining the written permission of the Minister, and during standby he remains subject to the provisions of military discipline.
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 111 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
May an officer placed on standby work in trade?
He may not engage in trade or any other work except with the written permission of the Minister.
Is an officer on standby subject to military discipline?
Yes. He is subject to the provisions of military discipline.
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 110
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.
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
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.