Article 169 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 169 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب الثاني عشر: العقوبات والجزاءات
Imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to SAR 50,000 for violating the Law where no specific penalty exists, for violating sanctions imposed under Article 164, and for violating the Authority's government orders.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بالحبس لمدة لا تزيد على ستة أشهر وغرامة لا تزيد على خمسين ألف ريال في الأحوال الآتية:
1- ارتكاب فعل أو الامتناع عن فعل بالمخالفة لأحكام هذا النظام أو القواعد أو التعليمات أو التراخيص أو التصاريح أو الإجازات الصادرة وفقا لهذه الأحكام إذا لم يكن للفعل أو الامتناع عقوبة محددة في هذا النظام أو أي نظام آخر.
2 - مخالفة الجزاءات التي توقعها الهيئة وفقا لأحكام المادة (الرابعة والستين بعد المائة) من هذا النظام.
3- مخالفة الأوامر الحكومية التي تصدرها الهيئة.
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 169 explained in plain English
This article sets a general penalty covering what has no special penalty, in addition to two specific cases.
The penalty: Imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000. Note that here the text states the two penalties joined by "and," without the phrase "or either of these two penalties" found in other articles.
The cases:
- The fallback penalty: Doing or failing to do something in violation of the provisions of the Law, or of the rules, instructions, licenses, permits or authorizations issued under them, if no specific penalty is set for the act or omission in this Law or any other law.
- Violating the sanctions the Authority imposes under Article 164, as stated in the text.
- Violating the government orders issued by the Authority.
Meaning of the first case: This article fills the gap: any violation for which the Law or another law sets no special penalty falls under it. If the act has a specific penalty, such as the fines for disruptive passengers in Article 168, it does not fall within this case.
Practical effect: Someone against whom the Authority issued a sanction or order, and who then violates it, exposes himself to this penalty.
This article follows Article 168, which sets fines for disruptive passengers, and precedes Article 170 on violating air carriage restrictions. Anyone facing an accusation under this article should consult a lawyer specializing in criminal or administrative cases.
Practical example
The Authority issued an order to a private aircraft operator to suspend its flights until certain observations were addressed, but it continued them. By violating this order he exposes himself to imprisonment for not more than six months and a fine of not more than SAR 50,000.
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 169 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
What is the penalty for violating the Civil Aviation Law if no specific penalty exists?
Imprisonment for not more than six months and a fine of not more than SAR 50,000, if no specific penalty is set for the act or omission in this Law or any other law.
Is violating the Civil Aviation Authority's orders punishable?
Yes. Violating the government orders issued by the Authority is one of the cases punished under this article.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Aviation Security Offenses and Penalties
- Article 14
Unauthorized persons may not interfere with or obstruct the flight crew during flight, and no one may tamper with the aircraft or endanger its safety, its crew or its passengers.
يحظر على أي شخص غير مخول رسميا أن يتدخل في أعمال أي عضو من أعضاء هيئة القيادة أو يعوقه عن عمله أثناء فترة الطيران ، كما يحظر على أي شخص العبث بأي جزء من أجزاء ا
- Article 19
The owner or operator of an aircraft registered in the Kingdom may not offer or sell alcohol, narcotics or prohibited items on board; arrivals may not possess them, and no aircraft may carry them into the Kingdom.
1 - يحظر على مالك أي طائرة مسجلة في المملكة، أو مشغلها أن يقدم أو يبيع لأي شخص على متنها أي مشروبات كحولية ، أو مواد مخدرة ، أو أي مواد محظور دخولها إلى المملكة
- Article 105
The article prohibits anyone from boarding an aircraft if they show signs of intoxication or drug use.
يحظر على أي شخص ركوب الطائرة إذا كانت تبدو عليه علامات السكر أو المخدر.
- Article 106
The article prohibits piloting an aircraft or working as a crew member while under the influence of an intoxicant, drug or impairing medication, and prohibits taking any of them throughout the period of work.
يحظر على أي شخص أن يقود طائرة أو أن يعمل كأحد أفراد طاقمها ما دام تحت تأثير مسكر أو مخدر أو دواء يؤدي إلى إضعاف مقدرته على القيام بواجباته على الوجه الأكمل، وفي
- Article 153
The provisions of the international treaties and conventions the Kingdom has approved, and the laws applied in the Kingdom, apply to crimes and acts committed against the security and safety of civil aviation and aircraft.
تطبق على الجرائم والأفعال التي ترتكب ضد أمن وسلامة الطيران المدني والطائرات؛ أحكام المعاهدات والاتفاقيات الدولية بهذا الشأن التي وافقت عليها المملكة وأحكام الأن
- Article 154
The article specifies the acts that are crimes against aviation security, such as violence on board an aircraft, destroying it, giving false information, seizing it, assaults at airports, assaulting crew, harassment and theft.
1- يُعد مرتبكًا لجريمة أي شخص يشرع في ارتكاب أو يرتكب عمدا ودون حق مشروع فعلا من الأفعال الآتية أو يشارك شخصا آخر يشرع أو يرتكب هذا الفعل: أ - أن يقوم بعمل من أ
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.