Article 52 of the Saudi Officers Service Law

This Article sets out two important definitions and a retirement rule:

(a) Basic salary and allowances:

• The basic salary is the salary set for the rank under the salary and increments scale attached to the Law, including periodic increments.
• Allowances include the stipends and increments provided for in the Law.

(b) Retirement contributions and pension:

• Retirement contributions are deducted from the basic salary only.
• The basic salary is the one on which the retirement pension is calculated.

In practice, an officer's income divides into two parts: the basic salary, which includes accumulated periodic increments, and the allowances, consisting of stipends and other increments. This distinction has a direct effect on retirement: the retirement deduction is calculated on the basic salary alone, and so is the pension. That is, stipends and other increments do not enter the calculation of the retirement pension under this text.

Note that periodic increments are part of the basic salary, while other increments are among the allowances. An officer with a dispute over the calculation of his deductions or pension may consider consulting a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.