Article 23 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 23 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الأول: سياسات النقل الجوي وتنفيذها
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 جميع التعليمات 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 23 explained in plain English
This article establishes that the Authority's instructions are binding on everyone working in the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom.
Those bound by the obligation:
- The owner or operator of any aircraft operating in the Kingdom, whatever its nationality.
- All national and foreign air transport and aviation establishments and companies.
- Air cargo companies and agencies.
- Ground handling companies and agencies for aircraft.
The content of the obligation: carrying out all instructions issued by the Authority. The text is general and does not limit the obligation to a particular kind of instruction.
This provision gives the Authority a flexible regulatory tool: it can issue instructions to deal with new situations, and the entities mentioned must carry them out. It is linked to the financial obligations on companies in Article 22, and to Article 24 after it, which requires an air operator license and the Authority's approval to set up air transport companies.
The article does not state the consequence of failing to comply; that is regulated by other provisions of the law. Anyone who believes particular instructions exceed the Authority's powers can consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.
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 23 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Are the Authority's instructions binding on foreign airlines?
Yes. All national and foreign air transport and aviation establishments and companies must carry out all instructions issued by the Authority.
Are ground handling companies bound by the Authority's instructions?
Yes. The article covers air cargo companies and agencies and ground handling companies and agencies for aircraft.
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 17
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.
1- لممثلي الهيئة المخولين حق الدخول إلى مكاتب وأماكن شركات ومؤسسات النقل الجوي الوطنية والأجنبية وشركات ووكالات الشحن الجوي والخدمات الأرضية للطائرات للتفتيش عل
- 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
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.