Article 6 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 6 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الثاني: التعيين
The article sets who is appointed with the rank of second lieutenant: graduates of Saudi military colleges and their equivalents, equivalent foreign institutions, and colleges and institutes whose specializations the Armed Forces need, with an exception possible by Council of Ministers decision.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يعين في رتبة الملازم :-
أ- خريجو الكليات العسكرية أو المؤسسات العسكرية السعودية التي تعادل شهاداتها شهادات الكليات العسكرية السعودية.
ب- خريجو الكليات أو المعاهد العسكرية الأجنبية التي تعادل شهاداتها شهادات الكليات العسكرية السعودية.
ج- خريجو إحدى الكليات العلمية أو النظرية أو المعاهد الفنية ممن تحتاج القوات المسلحة إلى اختصاصاتهم.
د- يجوز الاستثناء من شرط المؤهل المنصوص عليه فيما سبق بقرار من مجلس الوزراء.
2- وبالنسبة لخريجي الكليات والمعاهد المنصوص عليها في الفقرتين (ب،ج) يشترط أن يكون المتخرج حاصلاً على شهادة إتمام الدراسة الثانوية أو ما يعادلها قبل التحاقه بالكلية أو المعهد.
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 6 explained in plain English
This article sets out who is appointed to the rank of second lieutenant, the first officer rank, in paragraph (1):
- (a) Graduates of Saudi military colleges or military institutions whose certificates are equivalent to those of the Saudi military colleges.
- (b) Graduates of foreign military colleges or institutes whose certificates are equivalent to those of the Saudi military colleges.
- (c) Graduates of one of the scientific or theoretical colleges or technical institutes, whose specializations the Armed Forces need.
- (d) An exception from the qualification condition mentioned may be made by decision of the Council of Ministers.
Paragraph (2) adds a condition for graduates of categories (b) and (c): the graduate must hold the secondary school certificate or its equivalent before enrolling in the college or institute.
Note that category (c) is limited by the requirement that the Armed Forces be in need of the specialization of the graduate, so not every university graduate is appointed a second lieutenant. The exception in (d) is also limited to the qualification condition, and is issued by the Council of Ministers specifically.
Anyone who wishes to be appointed an officer with a university qualification or from a foreign college may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters to learn whether these categories apply to him.
Practical example
Engineer Rayan graduated from an engineering college after completing secondary school, and the Armed Forces need his specialization. He may be appointed with the rank of second lieutenant under paragraph (c), because he is a graduate of a scientific college whose specialization the Armed Forces need, and he obtained the secondary certificate before enrolling in the college.
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 6 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Can a university graduate be appointed an officer with the rank of second lieutenant?
Yes, if he is a graduate of the scientific or theoretical colleges or technical institutes whose specializations the Armed Forces need, and he obtained the secondary certificate before enrolling in the college.
Is a graduate of a foreign military college appointed an officer?
Yes, if the certificate of the college or institute is equivalent to those of the Saudi military colleges, and he obtained the secondary certificate before enrolling.
Can an exception be made from the qualification condition?
Yes, by decision of the Council of Ministers.
More articles on Conditions for Appointing Officers
- Article 4Amended (1403 AH)
The article sets the conditions for appointing an officer: Saudi origin and upbringing, completion of 19 years, medical fitness and freedom from disease, the required qualifications, good character, and no sentence for a hadd offense or a crime involving moral turpitude.
يشترط في تعيين الضابط توفر الشروط التالية : أ- أن يكون سعودي الأصل والمنشأ ويستثنى من شرط المنشأ من نشأ مع والده أثناء خدمته للدولة خارج المملكة. ب- قد أكمل الت
- Article 5
The article provides that an officer is appointed by decision of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on the proposal of the Prime Minister and after the recommendation of the Minister.
يتم التعيين بقرار من القائد الأعلى للقوات المسلحة بناءً على اقتراح رئيس مجلس الوزراء وبعد توصية الوزير.
- Article 7
For graduates of colleges and institutes under paragraphs (b) and (c) of Article 6, the article counts study years beyond three as seniority, and requires paragraph (c) graduates to pass a military course to continue.
بالنسبة للمتخرج من الكليات والمعاهد المنصوص عليها في الفقرتين (ب،ج) من المادة السادسة إذا كانت سنوات الدراسة المقررة للكلية أو المعهد تزيد على ثلاث سنوات فتحتسب
- Article 8
The article puts a second lieutenant on probation for two years, then a third year in another unit if his confidential reports are unsatisfactory, after which he is dispensed with, without rights, if they remain so.
يعتبر الضابط المعين في رتبة ملازم تحت الاختبار لمدة سنتين فإذا كانت تقاريره السرية غير مرضية ينقل إلى وحدة أخرى لمدة سنة ثالثة فإذا كانت تقاريره عند نهايتها غير
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.