Article 47 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 47 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: الاختيار والنقل
The Article requires providing an appointed or transferred officer, his wife, children and parents with transport by the nearest route to his new place, or travel tickets: first class for major and above, tourist class for captain and below.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تؤمن للضابط المعين أو المنقول الوسائط النقلية اللازمة لنقله وزوجته وأولاده ووالديه من أقرب طريق من مقر عمله الأصلي إلى مكانه الجديد ، فإذا لم تؤمن له وسائط النقل فتصرف له تذاكر سفر حسب الدرجات الآتية :-
أ- بالدرجة الأولى إذا كانت رتبة الضابط رائد فما فوق.
ب- بالدرجة السياحية إذا كانت رتبة الضابط نقيب فما دون.
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 47 explained in plain English
This Article governs transporting the officer and his family upon his appointment or transfer to a new place. Its provisions:
The rule: the officer is provided with the necessary means of transport for himself and for:
- his wife;
- his children;
- his parents.
The transport is by the nearest route from his original place of work to his new place.
The alternative: if means of transport are not provided to him, travel tickets are issued to him according to his rank:
- First class if his rank is major and above.
- Tourist class if his rank is captain and below.
Note that the Article specifically identifies those covered by the transport: the wife, children and parents, and does not mention other relatives. The phrase "by the nearest route" also fixes the route of transport for which the authority bears the cost.
In practice, an officer who is appointed or transferred does not bear the cost of his own travel and that of the family members specified in the text; either the authority provides him with a means of transport, or it issues him tickets in the class set for his rank. An officer who has not been given these entitlements may consider consulting a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
Major Salman is transferred from Riyadh to Tabuk and his unit does not provide a means of transport. He is issued first-class travel tickets for himself, his wife, children and parents, because his rank is major. Had he been a captain, he would have been issued tourist-class tickets.
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 47 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Are tickets issued to an officer's family when he is transferred?
Yes. Transport is provided for the officer, his wife, children and parents, and if it is not provided, travel tickets are issued to him.
What class are a transferred officer's tickets?
First class if his rank is major or above, and tourist class if captain or below.
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.