Article 160 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 160 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الباب الثاني: عشر أحكام عامة
The Council of Ministers has the right to interpret the Officers Service Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لمجلس الوزراء حق تفسير هذا النظَام.
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 160 explained in plain English
This article specifies the body competent to interpret the Officers Service Law, which is the Council of Ministers.
"Interpretation" means clarifying what is meant by the provisions of the law when needed, for example when a question arises about the meaning of a provision or the scope of its application. The article gives this right to the Council of Ministers.
Note the difference between this article and Article 159:
- Article 159: the Minister may issue the regulations and instructions needed to implement the law.
- This article: the Council of Ministers has the right to interpret the law.
The making of implementation tools is assigned to the Minister, while the interpretation of the law is assigned to the Council of Ministers.
This article is also connected with Article 161, which provides that this law replaces the Officers Service Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/18 dated 22/9/1379 AH, and repeals whatever conflicts with it from earlier laws and decisions.
The article does not state the procedures for requesting an interpretation or who submits it, so this should not be assumed from its text. Someone who needs to understand a provision of the law for a particular case is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
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Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
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Frequently asked questions about Article 160 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Who has the right to interpret the Officers Service Law?
The Council of Ministers.
Is the Minister the one who interprets the law?
No. The article gives interpretation to the Council of Ministers, whereas under Article 159 the Minister may issue the regulations and instructions needed to implement the law.
More articles on Officer Ranks and Definitions
- Article 1
The article names the law the Officers Service Law and states its subject: the rules regulating the service of officers working in the armed forces.
يسمى هذا النِظام (نظَام خدمة الضباط) وتتناول أحكامه القواعد التي تنظم خدمة الضباط العاملين في القوات المسلحة.
- Article 2Amended (1406 AH)
The article defines the Officers Service Law's terms: the Kingdom, the Minister, the armed forces, the officer, the staff officer, the medical, engineer and technical officer, with examples of technical specializations.
تعني الكلمات والعبارات التالية المعاني المذكورة أدناه ما لم يرد النص أو يدل السياق على خلاف ذلك. أ- المملكة: – المملكة العربية السعودية. ب- الوزير: – وزير الدفا
- Article 158
The Minister may grant some of his powers under the Officers Service Law to the Deputy Minister and the Chief of Staff.
يجوز للوزير منح بعض الصلاحيات المخولة له بموجب هذا النظَام إلى نائب الوزير ورئيس هيئة الأركان.
- Article 159
The Minister may issue the regulations and instructions needed to implement the Officers Service Law.
للوزير أن يضع اللوائح والتعليمات اللازمة لتنفيذ هذا النظَام.
- Article 161
This law replaces the system issued by Royal Decree M/18 dated 22/9/1379 AH, and repeals earlier laws and decisions to the extent they conflict with it.
يحل هذا النظَام محل نظَام خدمة الضباط الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي رقم م/18 وتاريخ 22/9/1379هـ ويلغى ما يتعارض معه من أنظمة وقرارات سابقة.
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.