Article 138 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 138 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الأول: مسؤولية الناقل الجوي
Every air carrier in the Kingdom's territory must verify that passengers and goods hold the entry or exit documents required, including on domestic carriage where appropriate, and bears liability for any failure.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يجب على كل ناقل جوي في إقليم المملكة التحقق من استيفاء الركاب والبضائع للمستندات والوثائق اللازمة للدخول إلى المملكة أو الخروج منها إلى المطار المقصود.
2 - تسري أحكام الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة على النقل الجوي الداخلي عند الاقتضاء.
3 - يتحمل الناقل الجوي المسؤولية التي قد تنجم عن التقصير في تنفيذ ما جاء في الفقرتين (1) و(2) من هذه المادة.
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 138 explained in plain English
This article makes the air carrier the "first gate" for checking travel documents.
1- The obligation: Every air carrier in the territory of the Kingdom must verify that:
- passengers; and
- goods;
hold the documents required to enter the Kingdom, or to leave it for the destination airport.
2- Domestic carriage: This obligation applies to domestic air carriage where appropriate, that is, in cases that call for it. The article does not specify those cases.
3- Liability: The air carrier bears the liability that may arise from failure to perform this obligation. The article does not specify the nature or amount of this liability.
Practical effect: This is why airlines ask travelers to show passports, visas and documents before boarding, and may refuse to board those who do not meet the requirements. The article does not name the required documents, which vary with the destination, the traveler's nationality and the type of goods.
This article follows Article 137, which relieves the carrier of liability for disembarking a passenger who disturbs order or endangers safety or is disembarked on the authorities' instructions, and precedes Article 139, which obliges every national or foreign carrier operating in the Kingdom to submit the air carriage conditions it applies to the Authority for approval. Someone facing a dispute over being prevented from traveling for missing documents may consult a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
Practical example
A traveler arrived at Riyadh airport heading to a country that requires an entry visa, and did not have one. The airline must verify that he holds the documents required to leave for the destination airport, and if it fails to do so it bears the liability that may arise from its failure.
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 138 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Why does the airline check my visa?
Because the article requires every air carrier in the Kingdom's territory to verify that passengers hold the documents required to enter the Kingdom or to leave it for the destination airport.
Is the carrier liable if it carries a passenger without documents?
Yes. The air carrier bears the liability that may arise from failure to perform this verification.
Does this apply to domestic flights?
The verification rules apply to domestic air carriage where appropriate.
More articles on Liability of the Air Carrier
- Article 117
The facts covered by the investigation committee's final report on an aircraft accident are considered correct until the contrary is proved.
تعد الوقائع التي شملها التقرير النهائي الذي تضعه لجنة التحقيق في حادث الطائرة صحيحة حتى يتم إثبات عكسها.
- Article 133
For the purposes of the chapter on air carrier liability, "air carrier" means the contracting or actual carrier, and "Montreal Convention" means the 1999 convention unifying certain rules for international air carriage.
يُقصد بالعبارات والمصطلحات الآتية أينما وردت في هذا الفصل المعاني المبينة أمامها ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك : الناقل الجوي : الناقل المتعاقد أو الناقل الفعلي حس
- Article 134
The air carrier's liability toward the passenger, shipper and consignee is contractual liability under the contract of carriage, governed by the international treaties the Kingdom has joined, the Law, other laws and applicable instructions.
تكون مسؤولية الناقل الجوي في علاقته مع الراكب أو شاحن البضائع والمرسل إليه مسؤولية تعاقدية وفقا لعقد النقل الجوي المبرم مع كل منهما، وتخضع لأحكام المعاهدات الدو
- Article 135
International treaties the Kingdom has joined apply to international and domestic air carriage of persons, baggage and goods.
تطبق المعاهدات الدولية المنضمة إليها المملكة على النقل الجوي الدولي والداخلي للأشخاص والأمتعة والبضائع.
- Article 136
The air carrier is liable to passengers, shippers and consignees for jettisoning baggage and goods during flight, even if it was necessary to save the aircraft or passengers.
يكون الناقل الجوي مسؤولا تجاه الركاب والشاحنين والمرسل إليهم عن إلقاء الأمتعة والبضائع المشحونة أثناء الطيران حتى ولو كان لا بد من إلقائها لنجاة الطائرة أو الرك
- Article 137
The carrier is not liable if the aircraft commander is compelled to disembark or hand over a passenger who disturbs order or endangers safety, or if the passenger is disembarked on the instructions of the competent authorities.
لا يكون الناقل مسؤولا إذا اضطر قائد الطائرة إلى إنزال أو تسليم أي راكب يخل بالنظام على متن الطائرة أو يشكل خطرا على سلامة الطائرة أو الركاب أو تم إنزاله تنفيذا
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.