Article 39 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 39 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: الاختيار والنقل
The Article provides that officers of all ranks are transferred outside their arm or specialty on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجري نقل الضباط على اختلاف رتبهم خارج السلاح أوالاختصاص بتوصية من لجنة الضباط العليا.
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 39 explained in plain English
This Article regulates a specific kind of transfer: transferring an officer outside his arm or specialty. Its provisions are:
- Scope: officers of all ranks; the Article does not distinguish between ranks.
- Type of transfer: transfer outside the arm or outside the specialty.
- Procedure: it takes place on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
In practice, changing an officer's arm or specialty is a significant decision, so it is made only after a recommendation from the Higher Officers Committee, whatever the officer's rank.
Note the difference between this kind of transfer and transfer within the same force; this Article concerns leaving the arm or specialty specifically. The text also makes the Committee's role one of recommendation, and does not specify here which authority issues the transfer decision after the recommendation.
The Article does not state the reasons for which this transfer may be made, or whether it occurs at the officer's request or on the authority's initiative. An officer who is the subject of a decision transferring him outside his arm or specialty and wants to check that its procedures were sound may consider consulting a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
A decision is issued transferring Captain Hamad from the artillery arm to work in the communications specialty. Under the Article, this transfer must take place on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee, because it is a transfer outside his arm and specialty.
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 39 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Who recommends transferring an officer outside his arm or specialty?
The transfer takes place on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
Does the rule differ with the officer's rank?
No. The Article provides that the rule covers officers of all ranks.
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 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.
- Article 42
The Article permits an officer to fill a post of a rank higher than his own, provided the difference does not exceed two ranks.
يجوز أن يشغل الضابط وظيفة ذات رتبة أعلى من رتبته على أن لا تتجاوز رتبتين على الأكثر.
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.