Article 17 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 17 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الأول: سياسات النقل الجوي وتنفيذها
Authorized representatives of the Authority may enter the offices of air carriers, cargo and ground handling companies to inspect them, review documents and seize those that violate the law, licenses or the Authority's instructions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لممثلي الهيئة المخولين حق الدخول إلى مكاتب وأماكن شركات ومؤسسات النقل الجوي الوطنية والأجنبية وشركات ووكالات الشحن الجوي والخدمات الأرضية للطائرات للتفتيش عليها ومراقبة تنفيذ أحكام التراخيص والتصاريح والإجازات الصادرة لها بممارسة نشاطها.
2- يكون لهؤلاء الممثلين حق الاطلاع على أي وثائق أو مستندات ضرورية لإجراء هذا التفتيش وضبط أي من هذه الوثائق، أو المستندات إذا تم اكتشاف مخالفتها لأحكام هذا النظام، أو التراخيص ، أو التصاريح ، أو الإجازات الصادرة لأي من هذه الشركات، أو الوكالات، أو للتعليمات 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 17 explained in plain English
This article sets out in detail the Authority's power to inspect and monitor, which is among its powers in Article 16, and applies it to companies' workplaces, not only to aircraft.
Entities subject to inspection:
- National and foreign air carrier companies and establishments.
- Air cargo companies and agencies.
- Ground handling companies and agencies for aircraft.
Powers of the Authority's authorized representatives:
- Entering the offices and premises of these entities to inspect them and monitor compliance with the terms of the licenses, permits and certificates issued to them.
- Reviewing any documents or papers necessary to carry out the inspection.
- Seizing these documents or papers if they are found to violate the provisions of the law, the licenses, permits or certificates issued to the entity, or the instructions issued by the Authority.
Note that seizure depends on discovering a violation, whereas reviewing covers what is necessary for the inspection. It is followed by Article 18, which prohibits domestic air transport by a foreign operator. A company whose documents have been seized can consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.
Practical example
Authority representatives visited the office of an air cargo agency in Jeddah to verify its compliance with the terms of its license, and reviewed the shipment records. When some documents were found to violate the Authority's instructions, they seized them under their powers in this article.
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 17 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can the aviation authority enter the offices of airlines?
Yes. Its authorized representatives may enter the offices and premises of air carriers, cargo and ground handling companies in order to inspect them.
When can a company's documents be seized?
If they are found to violate the provisions of the law, the licenses, permits or certificates, or the Authority's instructions.
More articles on Air Transport Policy and the Authority's Powers
- Article 15
The Board of Directors sets the general air transport policies of the Kingdom, and its chairman, or his delegate, represents the Kingdom before states and organizations on the matter.
يحدد مجلس الإدارة السياسات العامة للنقل الجوي في المملكة ويتولى رئيسه - أو من يفوضه - تمثيل المملكة في علاقاتها مع الدول والمنظمات الدولية والإقليمية في هذا الخ
- Article 16
The Authority regulates, monitors and develops the air transport sector and applies its policies, with powers including negotiating agreements, issuing and suspending licenses, setting fees, approving tariffs and inspecting carriers.
تقوم الهيئة بتنظيم قطاع النقل الجوي ومراقبته وتطويره وتنشيطه وتطبيق السياسات العامة للنقل الجوي في المملكة، ولها في سبيل ذلك القيام بممارسة الاختصاصات الآتية: 1
- Article 18
No foreign operator may carry passengers, goods or mail for pay between two points in the Kingdom, unless the Authority permits it for exceptional or special circumstances or to complete an international flight.
مع مراعاة أحكام نظام الاستثمار الأجنبي، لا يجوز لأي مشغل أجنبي نقل الركاب أو البضائع أو البريد بأجر أو بمقابل بين نقطتين واقعتين في إقليم المملكة. ومع ذلك يجوز
- Article 20
No agreements, arrangements or procedures to exchange or grant air transport rights relating to the Kingdom may be made with any foreign party except through the Authority and after completing the legal procedures.
لا يجوز عقد اتفاقيات، أو إجراء ترتيبات، أو اتخاذ إجراءات تتعلق بتبادل أو منح حقوق النقل الجوي التي تتعلق بالمملكة مع أي جهة أجنبية إلا بواسطة الهيئة وبعد استكما
- Article 22
National and foreign air carriers must pay the civil aviation fees and charges due on their domestic and international operations and flights at the levels set in the Civil Aviation Tariff Law and its regulations.
يجب على مؤسسات وشركات النقل الجوي والطيران الوطنية والأجنبية دفع رسوم وأجور الطيران المدني التي تستحق عن عملياتها ورحلاتها الجوية الداخلية والخارجية وفق المستوي
- Article 23
Owners and operators of aircraft operating in the Kingdom and all air transport, cargo and ground handling companies must carry out all instructions issued by the Authority.
على مالك أو مشغل أي طائرة تعمل في المملكة وجميع مؤسسات وشركات النقل الجوي والطيران الوطنية والأجنبية وشركات ووكالات الشحن الجوي والخدمات الأرضية للطائرات تنفيذ
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.