Diplomatic Jobs Regulation

Purpose and scope

• Regulates diplomatic service jobs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: appointment, probation, promotion, pay, allowances and benefits at home and abroad, end of service and removal (Article 2).
• Members are subject to the disciplinary rules of the Public Service Discipline Law and its regulation (Article 3).

Key rules, rights and obligations

• Candidates must be Saudi by origin, of good conduct, medically fit, hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent, and have no conviction for a hadd or qisas offence, a prison sentence over a year, or bribery, forgery, embezzlement or drug crimes (Article 10).
• Initial appointment is as attaché (Article 11); probation lasts a year, extendable by the same, and anyone not shown to be suitable is dismissed (Article 13).
• Promotion periods are at least 3 years between the early grades, and two years from attaché to third secretary for holders of a master's or doctorate (Article 22).
• On promotion, a member receives the new job's minimum salary or a 10% rise, whichever is higher (Article 31).
• A housing allowance of 25% of basic salary, capped at SAR 120,000 a year (Article 33), and health care for the member, spouse, parents, unmarried daughters and sons up to 25 (Article 34).
• A posted member is housed for 21 days on arrival (Article 38), and may not combine provided housing with a residence allowance in the host state (Article 40).

Violations, penalties and common problems

• Mission members must follow the society's values, Sharia and the code of conduct, look after Saudi citizens, and engage in no professional or commercial activity in the host state (Article 18).
• A member is removed from diplomatic work for offending God or Islam, a security directive, possessing or using drugs, or abuse or harassment (Article 77).
• Service may be ended for unexcused absence of 15 consecutive or 30 separate days in a year, or for failing to carry out a transfer within 30 days (Article 68).

Procedures and key deadlines

• Performance is appraised every year (Article 19), and promotion is not considered in cases such as study leave or referral for investigation (Article 25).
• Transfers of mission members are made by ministerial decision (Article 75).
• Service of an ambassador or minister plenipotentiary may be extended beyond retirement age under Article 69.

An advisory summary prepared by Al-Bayan Al-Wadih Law Firm. It is not an official text and does not replace the law, its implementing regulations, or advice from a specialised lawyer. The official published text and its amendments prevail.