Article 50 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 50 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الثاني: الإلحاق والإعارة
The Article permits lending an officer to serve outside the Armed Forces, by the Minister's decision with the Prime Minister's approval, for up to three years and for the rank of major or above, with his salary stopped as the rule.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز بقرار من الوزير بعد موافقة رئيس مجلس الوزراء إعارة الضابط للخدمة خارج القوات المسلحة سواء كان ذلك داخل المملكة وخارجها وتحتسب مدة الإعارة ضمن مدة الخدمة بالقوات المسلحة بعد تأدية العائدات التعاقدية عنها ولا يجوز أن يعار الضابط لمدة تزيد عن ثلاث سنوات.
ويراعى أن لا تقل رتبة الضابط المعار عن رتبة رائد.
ويقطع راتب الضابط المعار اعتباراً من تاريخ تركه العمل حتى يعود إلى مباشرته ويجوز بموافقة رئيس مجلس الوزراء أن تتحمل الجهة المعيرة كل أو بعض راتب الضابط المعار ومخصصاته كما يجوز في حالة الإعارة خارج المملكة أن يصرف للضابط مكافأة يحدد مقدارها رئيس مجلس الوزراء وأن يعامل بموجب هذا النظَام.
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 50 explained in plain English
This Article governs lending an officer to serve outside the Armed Forces, whether inside or outside the Kingdom. Its provisions:
Procedure and period:
- It is by decision of the Minister after the approval of the Prime Minister.
- It may not exceed three years.
- It must be ensured that the rank of the loaned officer is not lower than major.
Counting the period: the period of the loan is counted within the period of service in the Armed Forces after the retirement contributions are paid for it.
Salary:
- The loaned officer's salary is stopped from the date he leaves work until he returns to resume it.
- With the approval of the Prime Minister, the lending body may bear all or part of his salary and allowances.
- In the case of a loan outside the Kingdom, he may be paid a bonus whose amount the Prime Minister determines, and he is treated under this Law.
In practice, the rule is that the officer's salary stops during the loan, and the exception is the lending body bearing it with the Prime Minister's approval. Counting the period toward service is also conditional on paying the retirement contributions, so it is not counted automatically.
An officer offered a loan may consider consulting a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters to understand its effect on his salary and service.
Practical example
A civilian government body asks for Lieutenant Colonel Adel to be loaned for two years, and the Minister's decision is issued after the Prime Minister's approval. His salary stops from the date he leaves work, and the two years are counted in his military service after the retirement contributions are paid for them.
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 50 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
What is the maximum period for loaning an officer?
An officer may not be loaned for more than three years.
Does a loaned officer's salary continue?
It is stopped from the date he leaves work until he returns, and with the Prime Minister's approval the lending body may bear all or part of it.
What is the minimum rank of a loaned officer?
It must be ensured that the loaned officer's rank is not lower than major.
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.