The President of the Civil Service Bureau, Dr. Issam Al-Rabeean, has issued an official circular addressed to ministries, government departments, public authorities, and institutions outlining the mechanism for handling the situations of government employees who are currently outside the country and unable to return due to exceptional regional circumstances.

The directive comes after the closure of airspace prevented several employees from returning to the country, prompting the bureau to establish a clear administrative framework to address their employment status during this period.

According to the circular, the decision is based on External Circular No. (4) of 2026 issued by the Civil Service Bureau, which regulates the number of employees required to work in government entities under the current circumstances.

The bureau explained that a number of employees happened to be abroad when these developments occurred, and the suspension of air traffic and airspace closures made it impossible for them to return at the scheduled time, necessitating an official policy to manage their employment conditions until they can travel back.

The circular confirmed that employees stranded outside the country due to these exceptional circumstances will fall under Clause (3) of the previously issued circular. Under this provision, any period during which an employee is exempted from work will be considered an actual working period.

This arrangement will remain in place until employees are able to return to the country once the airspace reopens or through any other available means of travel, ensuring that the time spent abroad under such conditions will not be recorded as an absence affecting their service record.

The Civil Service Bureau further clarified that the duration of the exemption period will be determined after the end of the employee’s officially approved leave or after the end of the holiday during which the employee was expected to return to work.

The employee’s direct supervisor, or another higher-ranking supervisor, will determine the applicable period before referring the matter to the administrative affairs department or the relevant organizational unit within the government entity.

Supporting documentation confirming that the employee was outside the country during the relevant period must be attached so that the time can be officially recorded as an actual service period within the automated systems, in accordance with the procedures outlined in Circular No. (4) of 2026.

The circular also noted that employees whose approved leave periods have not yet ended will continue their leave until its scheduled expiration. Once the leave period concludes, the aforementioned procedures will then be applied if they remain unable to return to the country.

The Civil Service Bureau concluded the circular by urging all government entities to take the necessary steps and implement the instructions accordingly to ensure unified handling of such cases across the public sector.