In brief
Sets the offences for which a public employee is accountable, the disciplinary penalties from a written warning to dismissal, the investigation procedure, and when offences lapse and penalties are erased.
Summary of the law
Penalties in brief
- Written warning; deduction of up to three months' net salary (no more than a third of net monthly salary each month); loss of one annual increment; and dismissal (Article 6).
- No penalty without an investigation by a committee formed by the Minister, which recommends to him.
What counts as an offence
- Any act or omission that departs from the duties of the post, commits a prohibited act, or harms the honour and dignity of the post (Article 1).
- In practice: unexcused absence and lateness, disobeying instructions, breaching confidentiality.
- A criminal conviction may be referred to the committee if it breaches the duties of the post (Article 14).
Your rights
- A penalty is erased two years after it was issued if no other penalty follows (Article 21).
- Penalty decisions can be challenged before the Administrative Court within the deadlines.
A plain-language summary prepared by Al-Bayan Al-Wadih Law Firm, focused on the violations and problems that come up most in daily life. It is not a substitute for the official text or for legal advice.
What it covers
- Disciplinary penalties
- Investigation committees
- Role of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority
- Lapse of offences and erasure of penalties
Timeline
- Issued: Royal Decree M/18 · 8/2/1443H
Full record of amendments and regulations at the official source
Official text at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
The authoritative text is in Arabic; the Bureau of Experts publishes English translations for some laws.
Full official text
The full official text is in Arabic and is reproduced on the Arabic version of this page, as published by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. Read the full Arabic text
Library content is simplified general information for awareness only. It is not legal advice and does not replace the official text. Laws change: always check the official source and consult a lawyer before acting. Library data last reviewed: .