Article 156 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 156 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الباب الثاني: عشر أحكام عامة
An officer summoned to attend military meetings or appear before judicial, investigative or medical bodies is provided a return air ticket or suitable transport.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تؤمن للضابط تذكرة إركاب بالطائرة مرجعاً أو إركابه بواسطة النقل المناسب حسب الأحوال وذلك عند استدعائه لحضور الاجتماعات العسكرية أو المثول أمام الهيئات القضائية أو هيئات التحقيق أو اللجان الطبية.
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 156 explained in plain English
This article deals with an officer's travel when he is summoned for specific purposes, and provides that one of two means is provided to him, as the case may be:
- a return air ticket, that is, there and back.
- or transport by suitable means.
Cases covered by the provision: when the officer is summoned:
- to attend military meetings.
- or to appear before judicial bodies.
- or before investigative bodies.
- or before medical committees.
Note that the provision is tied to the officer being summoned; the article does not address an officer's travel on his own initiative. The phrase "as the case may be" means that the choice of airplane or another means of transport depends on the circumstances, and the text does not specify the criterion for this choice.
This article is connected with Article 155, which provides that officers transferred or seconded to work outside the Kingdom are treated, in the transport of their baggage or compensation for its cost, as the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are treated. The two articles therefore deal with different aspects of an officer's travel.
To assess the position of a particular officer, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
First Lieutenant Saud works in a distant city and is summoned to appear before a medical committee in another city. Under this article, a return air ticket is provided for him, or he is transported by suitable means, as the case may be.
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 156 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Does an officer get a plane ticket when summoned to court?
Yes. A return air ticket is provided for him, or transport by suitable means as the case may be, when he is summoned to appear before judicial bodies.
In which cases is a ticket provided for an officer?
When he is summoned to attend military meetings or to appear before judicial bodies, investigative bodies or medical committees.
What does a return ticket mean?
It means a ticket for going and coming back.
More articles on Officer Transfer, Secondment and Loan
- Article 35
The article provides that the Chief of the General Staff is selected by order of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
يتم اختيار رئيس هيئة الأركان العامة بأمر من القائد الأعلى للقوات المسلحة.
- Article 36Amended (1438 AH)
The article provides that the Deputy Chief of the General Staff and the commanders of the Land, Air, Naval, Air Defense and Strategic Missile Forces are selected by order of the Supreme Commander on the recommendation of the Minister of Defense.
يتم اختيار نائب رئيس هيئة الأركان العامة وقائد القوات البرية وقائد القوات الجوية وقائد القوات البحرية وقائد قوات الدفاع الجوي وقائد قوة الصواريخ الاستراتيجية بأ
- Article 38
The Article bars appointing an officer to a leadership post unless fully qualified, and provides that where more than one officer is nominated, the more competent officers are preferred.
لا يعين الضباط في منصب قيادي ما لم يكن تام التأهيل وإذا رشح أكثر من ضابط لتولي منصب قيادي فيفضل اختيار الضباط الأكفاء.
- Article 39
The Article provides that officers of all ranks are transferred outside their arm or specialty on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
يجري نقل الضباط على اختلاف رتبهم خارج السلاح أوالاختصاص بتوصية من لجنة الضباط العليا.
- Article 40Amended (1409 AH)
The Article provides that transfer and confirmation of officers within each force is on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee for the rank of lieutenant colonel and above, and by decision of the force commander for major and below.
يجري نقل واثبات الضباط داخل كل قوة بالقوات المسلحة على الوجه الآتي: 1- من رتبة مقدم فما فوق بتوصية من لجنة الضباط العليا. 2- من رتبة رائد فما دون بقرار من قائد
- Article 41
The Article provides that an officer serves in field units for the longest possible period and is not transferred from them, or from the arm he serves in, except in case of extreme necessity.
يخدم الضابط في الوحدات الميدانية أطول مدة ممكنة ولا ينقل منها أو من السلاح الذي يعمل فيه إلا عند الضرورة القصوى.
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.