Article 117 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 117 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الثاني: إنهاء الخدمة
The article lists the grounds for ending an officer's service, including retirement, dispensing with his services, dismissal, a judgment for a hadd or a crime of dishonor, resignation, medical unfitness, loss of nationality, death and 15 days' unexcused absence.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
تنتهي خدمات الضابط لأحد الأسباب الآتية :
أ- الإحالة إلى التقاعد.
ب- الاستغناء عن خدماته.
ج- الطرد من الخدمة العسكرية بناءً على قرار عسكري.
د- صدور حكم عليه بحد شرعي أو في جريمة مخلة بالشرف أو الأمانة.
هـ- الاستقالة.
و- عدم اللياقة الطبية للخدمة العسكرية.
ز- فقدان الجنسية.
ح- الوفاة أو الفقدان.
ط: الغياب أو الانقطاع عن العمل دون عذر مشروع لمدة خمسة عشر يوما متصلة أو منفصلة ولا يمنع انهاء الخدمة من محاكمته مسلكياً
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 117 explained in plain English
This article specifies the grounds for ending an officer's service, which are nine:
- (a) Referral to retirement.
- (b) Dispensing with his services.
- (c) Dismissal from military service based on a military decision.
- (d) A judgment against him for a hadd offense or a crime involving dishonor or breach of trust.
- (e) Resignation.
- (f) Medical unfitness for military service.
- (g) Loss of nationality.
- (h) Death or going missing.
- (i) Absence or interruption of work without a legitimate excuse for fifteen days, consecutive or separate, and ending service does not prevent his disciplinary trial.
Paragraph (i) was added by Royal Decree No. (M/2) dated 28/1/1421 AH.
The most important practical point in paragraph (i) is that the fifteen days are counted consecutive or separate; scattered absence without a legitimate excuse is enough to end service if it totals fifteen days. Ending service on this ground also does not do away with a disciplinary trial, as both may occur together.
Paragraph (i) does not specify the period of time within which separate days are added together. A person facing the end of his service on one of these grounds may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
First Lieutenant Samer was absent from his work without a legitimate excuse several times on separate occasions, and his total absence reached fifteen days. Under paragraph (i) his service may be ended on this ground, and this does not prevent his disciplinary trial.
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 117 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
What are the grounds for ending an officer's service?
Retirement, dispensing with his services, dismissal by military decision, a judgment for a hadd offense or a crime involving dishonor, resignation, medical unfitness, loss of nationality, death or going missing, and fifteen days' absence without excuse.
How many days of absence end an officer's service?
Fifteen days, consecutive or separate, without a legitimate excuse.
Does ending service for absence prevent the officer's trial?
No. The article provides that ending service does not prevent his disciplinary trial.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/2 — 28/1/1421 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- إضافة فقرة جديدة إلى هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/2) وتاريخ 1421/1/28هـ ، يكون نصها كما يأتي: (ط: الغياب أو الانقطاع عن العمل دون عذر مشروع لمدة خمسة عشر يوما متصلة أو منفصلة ولا يمنع انهاء الخدمة من محاكمته مسلكياً).
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
تنتهي خدمات الضابط لأحد الأسباب الآتية :
أ- الإحالة إلى التقاعد.
ب- الاستغناء عن خدماته.
ج- الطرد من الخدمة العسكرية بناءً على قرار عسكري.
د- صدور حكم عليه بحد شرعي أو في جريمة مخلة بالشرف أو الأمانة.
هـ- الاستقالة.
و- عدم اللياقة الطبية للخدمة العسكرية.
ز- فقدان الجنسية.
ح- الوفاة أو الفقدان.
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.