Article 32 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 32 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: القواعد العامة للترقية
The article allows the Minister, by decision on the recommendation of the Supreme Officers Committee, to grant honorary ranks to retired officers recalled to military service or to civilians where circumstances require.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز بقرار من الوزير بناءً على توصية لجنة الضباط العليا أن تمنح الرتب الشرفية للضباط المتقاعدين المعادين للخدمة العسكرية أو المدنيين إذا اقتضت الظروف ذلك.
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 32 explained in plain English
This article governs honorary ranks, and its elements are:
- The granting authority: the Minister, on the recommendation of the Supreme Officers Committee.
- The beneficiaries: two categories:
- Retired officers recalled to military service.
- Civilians.
- The condition: where circumstances require it.
Note regarding the first category that the text does not cover every retiree, but a retiree recalled to military service. The second category is civilians, that is, those who were not officers in the first place.
The article uses the word "may," so the grant is a discretionary power, tied to a general condition that "circumstances require it," without the text stating what those circumstances are.
The article does not set out the consequences of the honorary rank, such as its effect on salary, seniority or powers, so no rule on that should be inferred from it. It also does not set the duration of the honorary rank or its end.
Under Article 2 the Minister is the Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. Anyone with a question about the grant of an honorary rank or its effects may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
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 32 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Who grants military honorary ranks?
The Minister, by his decision on the recommendation of the Supreme Officers Committee.
Can an honorary rank be granted to a civilian?
Yes. The article permits granting honorary ranks to civilians where circumstances require it.
More articles on Exceptional Promotion and Temporary and Honorary Ranks
- Article 27Amended (1429 AH)
The article makes promotion to lieutenant general by absolute selection by order of the Supreme Commander from among major generals who have spent at least four years, with a term of four years renewable for up to four more.
تكون الترقية إلى رتبة فريق بالاختيار المطلق بأمر من القائد الأعلى لكافة القوات العسكرية بناءً على اقتراح رئيس مجلس الوزراء وتوصية الوزير وذلك من بين الضباط الحا
- Article 28
The article makes promotion to the rank of general by absolute selection by decision of the Supreme Commander, and the ending of the service of a lieutenant general and a general by his decision, on the proposal of the Prime Minister and the recommendation of the Minister.
تكون الترقية إلى رتبة فريق أول بالاختيار المطلق بقرار من القائد الأعلى للقوات المسلحة بناء على اقتراح رئيس مجلس الوزراء وتوصية الوزير وتنهى خدمة الفريق والفريق
- Article 29
The article permits the exceptional promotion of an officer to the next rank by decision of the Supreme Commander, without being bound by seniority or the time limit, if he performs distinguished acts on the battlefield or in military service.
يجوز ترقية الضباط إلى الرتبة التي تلي رتبته بصورة استثنائية بقرار من القائد الأعلى للقوات المسلحة بناء على اقتراح رئيس مجلس الوزراء وتوصية الوزير دون التقييد با
- Article 30
The article allows the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, by decision, not to be bound by the promotion rules in the Law in cases of war and general mobilization.
يجوز بقرار من القائد الأعلى للقوات المسلحة عدم التقيد بقواعد الترقية المنصوص عليها في هذا النظَام في حالتي الحرب والتعبئة العامة.
- Article 31
The article allows the Minister, on the recommendation of the Supreme Officers Committee, to give an officer a temporary higher rank for a post that requires it; he reverts to his rank on leaving the post, without financial benefits, and its period counts within his original service.
يجوز بقرار من الوزير بناءً على توصية لجنة الضباط العليا أن يمنح الضابط رتبة وقتية تعلو رتبته الأصلية متى عين الضابط في منصب تقضي ظروف الخدمة فيه بذلك الإجراء وي
- Article 33
The article orders precedence in command where ranks and seniority are equal: the serving officer, then the serving officer recalled from retirement, then the technical officer, engineer or doctor, then those recalled, then the assigned officer, then the honorary officer.
إذا تساوت الرتب والأقدمية تكون أسبقية القيادة للضباط طبقاً للترتيب الآتي :- 1- الضابط العامل. 2- الضابط العامل المستدعى من التقاعد. 3- الضابط الفني أو المهندس أ
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.