Article 48 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 48 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: الاختيار والنقل
The Article grants an appointed, transferred, attached or study-mission officer (for more than six months) two months' salary for moving his belongings, in addition to what Article 47 provides.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
بالإضافة إلى ماسبق في المادة (47) يصرف لنقل امتعة الضابط المعين أو المنقول والملحق والمبتعث لمدة تزيد عن ستة أشهر راتب شهرين.
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 48 explained in plain English
This Article provides an additional entitlement to the officer for moving his belongings, namely two months' salary. Those entitled are:
- The appointed officer.
- The transferred officer.
- An officer attached or sent on a study mission for more than six months.
The Article begins with the phrase "in addition to what preceded in Article 47", meaning this amount is paid in addition to what Article 47 provides, namely providing means of transport for the officer, his wife, children and parents by the nearest route, or issuing travel tickets, first class for major and above and tourist class for captain and below.
A transferred officer, for example, receives two things: transport for himself and his family under Article 47, and two months' salary for moving his belongings under this Article.
Note that the condition "for more than six months" appears in the text in connection with the attached officer and the officer sent on a study mission. This wording was put into effect by Royal Decree No. M/8 dated 17/4/1405 AH.
The Article does not specify exactly which salary is meant; the text says "two months' salary". An officer who has not been paid this entitlement may consider consulting a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
Captain Ahmed is sent on a two-year study mission in another city. In addition to transport for himself and his family under Article 47, he is paid two months' salary for moving his belongings because the period of his mission exceeds six months.
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 48 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Is an allowance paid for moving a transferred officer's belongings?
Yes. He is paid two months' salary for moving his belongings, in addition to what Article 47 provides.
Is an officer sent on a study mission entitled to the belongings allowance?
Yes, if the period of the mission or attachment exceeds six months.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/9 — 24/3/1397 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُّدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/9) وتاريخ 1397/3/24هـ.
Royal Decree No. M/8 — 17/4/1405 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُّدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/8) وتاريخ 1405/4/17هـ، بحيث تصبح بالنص التالي: (بالإضافة إلى ماسبق في المادة (47) يصرف لنقل امتعة الضابط المعين أو المنقول "والملحق والمبتعث لمدة تزيد عن ستة أشهر" راتب شهرين).
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
بالاضافة الى ما سبق في المادة ( 47 ) تؤمن وسائط النقل اللازمة لنقل امتعة الضابط المعين او المنقول داخل المملكة وعائلته فاذا لم تؤمن فيصرف راتب شهرين على ان لا تزيد عن ثلاثة الاف ريال .
Articles this article refers 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.