Article 13 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 13 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثالث: أحكام عامة للطيران
No aircraft fitted with cameras or aerial survey equipment may fly in the Kingdom, and such equipment may not be used, without a permit from the Authority and under its conditions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز الطيران في إقليم المملكة بطائرات مجهزة بآلات التصوير أو المسح الجوي أو استعمال هذه الآلات إلا بتصريح من الهيئة ووفقا للشروط التي تحددها في هذا الشأن.
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 13 explained in plain English
This article regulates aerial photography and surveying by aircraft, because of its link to security, privacy and sovereignty over the territory. It prohibits two things except with a permit:
- Flying in the territory of the Kingdom in aircraft fitted with cameras or aerial survey equipment.
- Using this equipment.
Note that the prohibition covers merely flying an aircraft fitted with this equipment, not only using it.
The exception: this is permitted with a permit from the Authority and according to the conditions the Authority sets on the matter. Here the Authority itself sets the conditions, unlike other places where the law refers to the Implementing Regulations.
The article does not specify the types of cameras meant or say whether it covers drones, so nothing should be inferred about that from it; refer to the Authority's conditions.
This article comes after Article 12 on dangerous goods and before Article 14, which prohibits interference with the flight crew's work and tampering with the aircraft. Anyone working on aerial surveying or photography projects would do well to confirm they have the permit before carrying out the work, and to consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases when needed.
Practical example
An engineering company in Dammam contracted a small aircraft operator to carry out an aerial survey of a project site. The aircraft fitted with survey equipment may not fly or use that equipment until a permit is obtained from the Authority, and according to the conditions it sets.
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 13 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Does aerial photography in Saudi Arabia need a permit?
Yes. No aircraft fitted with cameras or aerial survey equipment may fly, and such equipment may not be used, except with a permit from the Authority.
Who sets the conditions for aerial photography?
The Authority sets them.
More articles on Flight Permits and Aircraft Inspection
- Article 6
The Authority may inspect aircraft, prevent them from flying and seize their documents to monitor compliance with the Civil Aviation Law; the Implementing Regulations set the procedures.
مع عدم الإخلال بما تقرره الأنظمة الأخرى والمعاهدات الدولية؛ فإن للهيئة الحق في تفتيش الطائرات ومنعها من الطيران أو حجز أي وثائق تتعلق بها لمراقبة تنفيذ أحكام هذ
- Article 7
Customs, security, passport, and health and agricultural quarantine personnel and any other competent body may inspect aircraft, persons and cargo within their jurisdiction, in the presence of a representative of the Authority.
لموظفي الجمارك والأمن والجوازات والحجر الصحي والزراعي وأي جهة مختصة أخرى الحق في تفتيش الطائرات ، أو أي شخص، أو حمولة على متنها وفقا لاختصاصاتها المقررة لها بمو
- Article 8
Passengers, crew members and consignors of goods must follow the residence, passport, customs, and health and agricultural quarantine rules when entering, staying in and leaving the Kingdom.
على الركاب وأعضاء الطاقم ومرسلي البضائع عند دخول المملكة والإقامة فيها والخروج منها اتباع الأنظمة والتعليمات والبيانات المتعلقة بالإقامة وجوازات السفر والجمارك
- Article 9
No aircraft may operate in the Kingdom's territory without a license or permit issued by the Authority; it is personal and cannot be assigned to others, and the Implementing Regulations set its conditions.
للهيئة صلاحية إصدار التراخيص والتصاريح للطائرات ، ولا يجوز لأي طائرة أن تعمل في إقليم المملكة إلا بموجب ترخيص أو تصريح تصدره الهيئة، ويعد الترخيص أو التصريح شخص
- Article 10
The article sets the requirements for an aircraft operating in the Kingdom: registration, a valid airworthiness certificate, markings, equipment, crew licenses and insurance, with possible exemptions for test and training aircraft except insurance.
1 - يجب أن تتوافر في الطائرة التي تعمل في إقليم المملكة ، الشروط الآتية: أ - أن تكون مسجلة في الدولة التابعة لها أو مسجلة وفقا لقواعد التسجيل الدولي أو المشترك.
- Article 11
No aircraft operating in the Kingdom may be fitted with radio equipment without approval of the state of registration, and it may only be used for air navigation purposes by the flight crew.
لا يجوز تجهيز أي طائرة تعمل في إقليم المملكة بأي أجهزة لاسلكية ما لم يكن لديها موافقة بذلك من السلطات المختصة في الدولة المسجلة فيها أو سلطة تسجيل العلامة العام
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.