Article 21 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 21 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: القواعد العامة للترقية
The article makes promotion from second lieutenant to lieutenant colonel by seniority on conditions: satisfactory efficiency reports and confidential file, the minimum period served, completed qualification through courses, examination and field service, and a vacancy.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تكون الترقية من رتبة ملازم حتى رتبة مقدم بالأقدمية مع توفر الشروط التالية :-
أ- أن تكون تقارير الكفاءة السنوية والبيانات الواردة بملف الضابط السري مرضية.
ب- أن يكون الضابط قد أمضى الحد الأدنى للمدة الزمنية المقررة في رتبته.
ج- أن يكون الضابط تام التأهيل على الوجه الاتي :-
1- أن يحصل على الدورات الحتمية والمؤهلات العلمية التي توصي بها لجنة الضباط العليا.
2- أن يجتاز امتحان الترقية المقررة وذلك في غير الحالات الاستثنائية التي يوافق عليها الوزير بناءً على قرار من لجنة الضباط العليا.
3- أن يقضي الضابط من رتبة نقيب فما دون المدة المقررة للخدمة بوحدات السلاح الميدانية.
د- وجود الشاغر.
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 21 explained in plain English
This article sets the basis for promotion from the rank of second lieutenant to the rank of lieutenant colonel, which is seniority, provided that the following conditions are met together:
- (a) Reports: the annual efficiency reports and the data in the confidential file must be satisfactory.
- (b) Period: he must have spent the minimum prescribed period of time in his rank.
- (c) Completed qualification, which includes:
- Obtaining the mandatory courses and academic qualifications recommended by the Supreme Officers Committee.
- Passing the prescribed promotion examination, except in exceptional cases approved by the Minister on the basis of a decision of the Supreme Officers Committee.
- The officer from the rank of captain and below spending the prescribed period of service in the field units of the branch.
- (d) A vacancy.
"By seniority" means that the order on the seniority list determines who is promoted first among those who meet the conditions. The amount of the minimum period for each rank is not set by this article.
Note that exemption from the promotion examination is possible in exceptional cases with the Minister's approval on the basis of a decision of the Supreme Officers Committee, while this article contains no exception from the other conditions. The field service condition also concerns the rank of captain and below.
Anyone who believes he has met the conditions and has not been promoted may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
First Lieutenant Turki has spent the prescribed period in his rank, his reports are satisfactory, he finished the mandatory courses, passed the promotion examination, and spent the prescribed period in a field unit. He is promoted to captain according to his seniority when there is a vacancy; if there is no vacancy he waits, even though he has met the other conditions.
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 21 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
What are the conditions for promoting an officer from second lieutenant to lieutenant colonel?
Satisfactory efficiency reports and confidential file, the minimum period in the rank, completed qualification through the mandatory courses, qualifications, promotion examination and field service for those who are captain and below, and a vacancy.
Can an officer be exempted from the promotion examination?
Yes, in exceptional cases approved by the Minister on the basis of a decision of the Supreme Officers Committee.
On what basis are officers promoted up to lieutenant colonel?
By seniority, provided the conditions set out are met.
More articles on Officer Promotion Conditions and Periods
- Article 19
The article delays the promotion of an officer from second lieutenant to major by six months when his reports are unsatisfactory, with a transfer, then another six months, and ends his service if he has not improved within the year.
إذا توفرت جميع شروط الترقية في الضابط من رتبة ملازم إلى رتبة رائد وكانت تقارير الكفاءة غير مرضية فتؤخر ترقيته لمدة ستة شهور وينقل بعدها لوحدة أخرى يقدم عنه خلال
- Article 20
The article provides that all officers advance by promotion from the lower rank to the rank immediately above it, by decision of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces on the proposal of the Prime Minister and after the recommendation of the Minister.
يتدرج جميع الضباط بالترقية من الرتبة الأدنى إلى الرتبة التي تليها مباشرة وذلك بقرار من القائد الأعلى للقوات المسلحة بناءً على اقتراح رئيس مجلس الوزراء وبعد توصي
- 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 23
The article sets the considerations for promoting a lieutenant colonel, colonel and brigadier: period, reports, qualification and vacancy; seniority, efficiency, leadership ability and qualifications; and selecting the best qualified from the candidates list.
يراعى في ترقية كل من المقدم والعقيد والعميد إلى الرتب التالية الاعتبارات الآتية :- أ- توفر الشروط الآتية : 1- أن يكون الضابط قد أمضى الحد الأدنى للمدة الزمنية ا
- Article 24
The article divides lieutenant colonels, colonels and brigadiers into three categories by qualification and recommendation for promotion, and gives the second category a year from notification to complete its qualification.
أ- يقسم الضباط من رتبة مقدم وعقيد وعميد إلى ثلاثة أقسام :- القسم الأول : الذين أتموا تأهيلهم وأوصى بترقيتهم. القسم الثاني : الذين لم يتموا تأهيلهم ولكن يوصى بتر
- 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
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.