Article 46 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 46 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: الاختيار والنقل
The Article permits transferring an officer from one force to another in the Armed Forces when the public interest requires, by decision of the Minister on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee, and adds him to the seniority lists of the new force.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز نقل الضابط من قوة إلى أخرى في القوات المسلحة إذا اقتضت المصلحة العامة ذلك ويتم هذا النقل بقرار من الوزير بناءً على توصية لجنة الضباط العليا ويضم إلى كشوفات الأقدمية في القوة المنقول إليها.
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 46 explained in plain English
This Article governs transferring an officer from one force to another within the Armed Forces, for example from the Land Forces to another force. Its provisions:
- Reason: the public interest requires it.
- Authority: by decision of the Minister on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
- Effect on seniority: the officer is added to the seniority lists of the force transferred to.
In practice this type of transfer is restricted by the public interest, and goes through two stages: the Committee's recommendation, then the Minister's decision. The Minister under Article 2 is the Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General.
The important effect for the officer relates to seniority: he becomes part of the seniority lists of the new force. The Article does not specify the position in which the officer is placed within these lists, or whether his previous seniority is preserved as it is; the text is limited to the phrase "added to the seniority lists of the force transferred to".
The Article is permissive, using the word "may", so it gives the officer no right to transfer and does not oblige the authority to make it. It does not address whether the officer may request this transfer.
An officer who is the subject of a decision transferring him to another force and wants to know its effect on his seniority may consider consulting a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
The Air Defense Forces needed an officer with a particular specialty, available in Captain Saleh, who serves in the Land Forces. On the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee, the Minister issues a decision transferring him as the public interest requires, and he is added to the seniority lists in the Air Defense Forces.
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 46 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
May an officer be transferred from one force to another?
Yes, if the public interest requires, by decision of the Minister on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
What happens to an officer's seniority after he is transferred to another force?
He is added to the seniority lists of the force transferred to.
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.