Article 119 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 119 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الثاني: إنهاء الخدمة
The article gives the competent authorities the right to accept or refuse an officer's retirement or resignation request, with notice within three months, and requires deferring a decision while he is under investigation or trial.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
إذا قدم الضابط طلباً للإحالة إلى التقاعد أو الاستقالة فللمراجع المختصة حق رفضه أو قبوله، ويخطر الضابط بالقبول أو الرفض في مدة أقصاها ثلاثة أشهر، أما إذا كان الضابط رهن التحقيق أو المحاكمة فيجب إرجاء البتّ في الطلب إلى أن ينتهي التحقيق بالحفظ أو المحاكمة، وفي الحالة الأخيرة يُنتظر أن يصدّق على الحكم ثم يُنظر في طلبه على ضوء النتيجة
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 119 explained in plain English
This article regulates what happens when an officer submits a request for referral to retirement or for resignation. It contains three provisions:
- Discretion: the competent authorities have the right to accept or refuse the request, so submitting a request does not mean it is automatically accepted.
- Notice period: the officer is notified of acceptance or refusal within a maximum of 3 months.
- Investigation or trial: if the officer is under investigation or trial, a decision on his request must be deferred:
- until the investigation ends in closure, or
- until the trial ends, in which case ratification of the judgment is awaited, and the request is then considered in light of the result.
The current text is as amended by Royal Decree No. M/28 dated 26/3/1442 AH.
This article complements its surroundings: Article 118 requires a resignation request to be free of any condition or restriction, otherwise the competent authority may decline to consider it, and provides that an officer's service ends only when a decision accepting his resignation is issued. Article 120 bars the officer from leaving his work before being officially notified that his request has been accepted.
The article does not state what follows if the three months pass without notice, so acceptance or refusal of the request cannot be assumed from their passing.
To assess the position of a particular officer, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.
Practical example
Major Khalid submitted a retirement request while he was under investigation. His request is not decided until the investigation ends in closure or a trial; if he is referred to trial, ratification of the judgment is awaited, and his request is then considered in light of the result.
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 119 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
May the authority refuse an officer's retirement request?
Yes. The competent authorities have the right to refuse or accept a request for referral to retirement or for resignation.
How long is the period to respond to an officer's retirement or resignation request?
The officer is notified of acceptance or refusal within a maximum of three months.
What happens to a resignation request if the officer is under investigation?
A decision on it must be deferred until the investigation ends in closure or the trial ends, and in the case of a trial, ratification of the judgment is awaited and the request is then considered in light of the result.
Does the officer leave his work after submitting the request?
No. Article 120 bars him from leaving his work before being officially notified that his request has been accepted.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/28 — 26/3/1442 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُّدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/28) وتاريخ 1442/3/26هـ، لتكون بالنص الآتي: "إذا قدم الضابط طلباً للإحالة إلى التقاعد أو الاستقالة فللمراجع المختصة حق رفضه أو قبوله، ويخطر الضابط بالقبول أو الرفض في مدة أقصاها ثلاثة أشهر، أما إذا كان الضابط رهن التحقيق أو المحاكمة فيجب إرجاء البتّ في الطلب إلى أن ينتهي التحقيق بالحفظ أو المحاكمة، وفي الحالة الأخيرة يُنتظر أن يصدّق على الحكم ثم يُنظر في طلبه على ضوء النتيجة".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
إذا قدم الضابط طلباً بالاستقالة فللمراجع المختصة حق رفضها أو قبولها ويخطر الضابط بالقبول أو الرفض في مدة أقصاها ثلاثة أشهر أما إذا كان الضابط رهن التحقيق أو المحاكمة فيجب إرجاء البت في الاستقالة إلى أن ينتهي التحقيق بالحفظ أو المحاكمة وفي الحالة الأخيرة ينتظر إلى أن يصدق على الحكم ثم ينظر في استقالته على ضوء النتيجة.
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.