Article 51 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 51 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الثاني: الإلحاق والإعارة
The Article provides that, absent another provision, transfer, appointment, confirmation, attachment and loan under Chapters One and Two of Part Five are by decision of the Minister on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
فيما لم يرد به نص آخر فإن النقل والتعيين والإثبات والإلحاق والإعارة المنصوص عليها بالفصل الأول والثاني من الباب الخامس من هذا النظَام يتم بقرار من الوزير بناءً على توصية من لجنة الضباط العليا.
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 51 explained in plain English
This Article sets a general fallback rule for identifying the authority competent for a number of decisions concerning officers. Its elements:
- Decisions covered: transfer, appointment, confirmation, attachment and loan.
- Scope: those provided for in Chapters One and Two of Part Five of the Law.
- Authority: by decision of the Minister on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
- Limitation: where no other provision applies.
The phrase "where no other provision applies" means this rule does not apply if a specific provision sets another authority or a different procedure for a particular decision. The specific provision takes precedence, and this Article fills the gap where there is no specific provision.
In practice, anyone who wants to know the authority competent for a decision of transfer, attachment or loan should first look for a specific provision on that case; if there is none, the rule is that the decision belongs to the Minister after the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee. The Minister under Article 2 is the Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General.
An officer who is the subject of a decision and wants to check that it was issued by the competent authority may consider consulting a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
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Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
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Frequently asked questions about Article 51 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Who issues decisions on transfer, attachment and loan of officers?
Where no other provision applies, they are by decision of the Minister on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
When does this rule not apply?
If another specific provision sets a different authority or procedure.
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.