Article 115 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 115 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: الاستيداع
The article bars officers placed on standby from wearing military uniform, but permits it when they are called to the Ministry of Defense or attend official military ceremonies with the permission of the Chief of the General Staff.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يسمح للضباط الذين صدر قرار بإحالتهم إلى الاستيداع بارتداء الملابس العسكرية ويجوز لهم ارتداؤها عند دعوتهم إلى وزارة الدفاع والطيران أو عند حضورهم الحفلات الرسمية العسكرية وبتصريح من رئيس هيئة الأركان العامة.
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 115 explained in plain English
This article regulates wearing military uniform by an officer placed on standby, with a rule and an exception:
The rule: officers for whom a decision placing them on standby has been issued are not permitted to wear military uniform.
The exception: they may wear it in two cases:
- when they are called to the Ministry of Defense and Aviation.
- or when they attend official military ceremonies.
The text requires for this permission from the Chief of the General Staff.
The practical meaning is that an officer on standby, although he keeps his military status, does not appear in military uniform in his daily life. Uniform is tied to actual service, and the exception is limited to specific official occasions.
Note that the ban begins from the issuance of the decision of placement, as the phrase "for whom a decision placing them has been issued" indicates. The article does not state the penalty for a violation.
A person who has received an official invitation and wants to know whether he may wear military uniform must request the permission of the Chief of the General Staff, and may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
Colonel Hashem, who is on standby, was invited to attend an official military graduation ceremony. He may wear military uniform at this ceremony after obtaining permission from the Chief of the General Staff, but otherwise he is not permitted to wear it.
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 115 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
May an officer on standby wear military uniform?
He is not permitted to, except when called to the Ministry of Defense and Aviation or attending official military ceremonies with the permission of the Chief of the General Staff.
Who permits an officer on standby to wear uniform?
The Chief of the General Staff.
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.