Article 42 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 42 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: الاختيار والنقل
The Article permits an officer to fill a post of a rank higher than his own, provided the difference does not exceed two ranks.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز أن يشغل الضابط وظيفة ذات رتبة أعلى من رتبته على أن لا تتجاوز رتبتين على الأكثر.
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 42 explained in plain English
This Article provides that an officer may fill a post of a rank higher than his own, and sets one restriction on this:
- The rank of the post must not exceed the officer's rank by more than two ranks.
In practice, an officer may be assigned to a post designated for a rank one or two ranks above his own, but may not fill a post designated for a rank higher than that. What matters is the number of ranks separating the officer's rank from the rank of the post, which may not exceed two.
Note that the Article speaks of filling the post; it does not address granting the officer the post's rank or any financial effects of filling it. It cannot be inferred that the officer receives the salary of the higher rank or its rank.
The Article is permissive, using the word "may", so it does not oblige the authority to assign an officer to a higher post, nor give him a right to that. An officer assigned to a post exceeding his rank by more than two ranks may consider consulting a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
Captain Abdulrahman was assigned to fill a post designated for the rank of lieutenant colonel because no officer of that rank was available. This is permitted under the Article because the difference is two ranks (major, then lieutenant colonel). Assigning him to a post designated for the rank of colonel, however, would exceed the permitted limit.
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 42 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
May an officer fill a post higher than his rank?
Yes, provided the rank of the post does not exceed his rank by more than two ranks.
Does the officer receive the salary of the higher post?
The Article does not address financial effects; it is limited to permitting him to fill the post and the two-rank limit.
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 39
The Article provides that officers of all ranks are transferred outside their arm or specialty on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
يجري نقل الضباط على اختلاف رتبهم خارج السلاح أوالاختصاص بتوصية من لجنة الضباط العليا.
- 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.
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.