Article 23 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 23 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: القواعد العامة للترقية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المقررة للخدمة في رتبته.
2- أن تكون تقارير الكفاءة مرضية وتوصي بترقيته.
3- أن يكون قد أتم التأهيل المطلوب.
4- وجود الشاغر.
ب- الأقدمية بوجه عام والكفاءة والمقدرة على تولى مناصب القيادة مع الحصول على المؤهلات العلمية والفنية للمركز الذي سيشغله الضابط ويصدر رئيس هيئة الأركان العامة قراراً بتلك المؤهلات بناءً على توصية لجنة الضباط العليا.
ج- تكون ترقية المقدم والعقيد والعميد إلى الرتب التالية باختيار الضابط الأكثر تأهيلاً من بين من سبقت التوصية بترقيتهم وأدرجت أسماؤهم بكشف المرشحين للترقية ويصدر قرار من الوزير بناءً على توصية لجنة الضباط العليا يبين شروط وضع اسم
الضابط في كشوفات المرشحين للترقية.
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 23 explained in plain English
This article governs the promotion of a lieutenant colonel, colonel and brigadier to the next ranks, and differs from the lower ranks in being based on selection. The considerations taken into account are:
(a) Basic conditions:
- Spending the minimum period prescribed in his rank.
- His efficiency reports being satisfactory and recommending his promotion.
- Completing the required qualification.
- The existence of a vacancy.
(b) Criteria of preference: seniority in general, efficiency, and the ability to assume command positions, together with obtaining the academic and technical qualifications for the post he will occupy. The Chief of the General Staff issues a decision on those qualifications on the recommendation of the Supreme Officers Committee.
(c) Method of selection: promotion is by selecting the best qualified officer from among those whose promotion has been recommended and whose names are included in the list of candidates for promotion. A decision of the Minister, on the recommendation of the Supreme Officers Committee, sets out the conditions for placing an officer's name on these lists.
The essential difference is that seniority here is one of the criteria "in general" and not the only criterion; the best qualified may be preferred. It is also required that the reports recommend promotion, not merely that they be satisfactory.
Anyone who believes he was passed over by another without justification may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
Colonels Nasser and Adel are on the list of candidates for promotion to brigadier, and Nasser is senior, but Adel holds the qualifications the Chief of the General Staff has set for the post and has wider command experience. Adel may be selected because promotion in these ranks goes to the best qualified, and seniority is a criterion in general, not the only one.
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 23 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
How is a colonel promoted to brigadier?
By selecting the best qualified officer from among those whose promotion has been recommended and whose names are on the list of candidates, with the period, reports recommending promotion, qualification and a vacancy.
Is seniority the only criterion in promoting senior officers?
No. Seniority is taken into account in general, together with efficiency, the ability to assume command positions, and the academic and technical qualifications for the post.
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 21
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.
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
- 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 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.