Article 7 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 7 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الثاني: التعيين
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 له المدة الزائدة أقدمية في الرتبة التي يعين فيها ويثبت في الرتبة والمربوط اللذين يتناسبان مع سنوات الدراسة للكلية أو المعهد الذي تخرج منه ويتعين بالنسبة للمتخرج من الكليات والمعاهد المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (ج) كشرط لاستمراره في الرتبة العسكرية اجتيازه بنجاح الدورة العسكرية التي تحددها الجهة المختصة بوزارة الدفاع والطيران.
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 7 explained in plain English
This article completes the provisions of Article 6 and concerns two categories of it: graduates of equivalent foreign military colleges or institutes (paragraph b), and graduates of scientific or theoretical colleges or technical institutes whose specializations the Armed Forces need (paragraph c). It contains two provisions:
First: seniority and salary scale. If the prescribed years of study of the college or institute exceed three years:
- The excess period is counted as seniority in the rank to which he is appointed.
- He is placed in the rank and salary scale that correspond to the years of study at the college or institute.
Someone whose prescribed study period is five years, for example, has the two years beyond the three counted as seniority.
Second: condition of continuation for paragraph (c) graduates. A graduate of the civilian colleges and institutes in paragraph (c) must, as a condition of continuing in the military rank, successfully pass the military course determined by the competent body in the Ministry of Defense and Aviation.
The measure for seniority is the prescribed years of study of the college or institute, not the time the student actually took. The course is a condition of continuation, meaning that failing to pass it affects his remaining in the military rank. Anyone with a dispute over the calculation of his seniority may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
Dr. Nawaf graduated from a medical college whose prescribed study period is six years, and was appointed a second lieutenant under paragraph (c) of Article 6. Three years are counted to him as seniority in his rank, being the period beyond three years, he is placed in the appropriate rank and salary scale, and he must pass the military course determined by the competent body in order to continue in the rank.
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 7 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Are university years counted as an officer's seniority?
If the prescribed years of study of the college or institute exceed three years, the excess period is counted as seniority in the rank to which he is appointed.
Must an officer who graduated from a civilian university take a military course?
Yes. A graduate of the colleges and institutes in paragraph (c) must pass the military course determined by the competent body, as a condition of continuing in the military rank.
Articles this article refers to
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 6
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.
1- يعين في رتبة الملازم :- أ- خريجو الكليات العسكرية أو المؤسسات العسكرية السعودية التي تعادل شهاداتها شهادات الكليات العسكرية السعودية. ب- خريجو الكليات أو الم
- 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.