Article 24 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 24 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: الترخيص لشركات الطيران وتشغيلها
A national company or establishment for commercial air transport or aerial work may not be set up without an air operator license and the Authority's approval, without prejudice to the Companies Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بأحكام نظام الشركات والأنظمة ذات العلاقة؛ لا يجوز إنشاء شركة أو مؤسسة وطنية لممارسة نشاط النقل الجوي التجاري أو الأشغال الجوية داخل المملكة وخارجها ما لم تكن حاصلة على ترخيص مشغل جوي وبعد الحصول على موافقة من الهيئة، وتحدد اللائحة شروط الحصول عليها.
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 24 explained in plain English
This article sets the condition for national companies to enter the commercial aviation market. A national company or establishment may not be set up to engage in:
- commercial air transport activity,
- or aerial work,
inside or outside the Kingdom, except once two conditions are met:
- Obtaining an air operator license.
- Obtaining the Authority's approval.
The Implementing Regulations set the conditions for obtaining this license and approval; the law does not state them itself.
This provision applies without prejudice to the Companies Law and related laws; that is, setting up the company also requires meeting the requirements of the Companies Law, and neither replaces the other.
After setting up, Article 25 follows, which requires the Authority's approval before operating any air route or new aircraft type. The article comes after Article 23, which binds companies to the Authority's instructions. Anyone planning to set up an airline would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial and company matters.
Practical example
Investors in Riyadh agreed to set up a low-cost airline for domestic flights. Besides the procedures for setting up the company under the Companies Law, it may not be set up to engage in commercial air transport until an air operator license and the Authority's approval have been obtained under the conditions of the Implementing Regulations.
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 24 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
What are the requirements for setting up an airline in Saudi Arabia?
An air operator license and the Authority's approval are required, and the Implementing Regulations set their conditions, without prejudice to the Companies Law and related laws.
Do aerial work companies need a license?
Yes. The provision covers national companies engaged in commercial air transport or aerial work inside or outside the Kingdom.
More articles on Licensing Airlines and Air Routes
- 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 25
National air transport companies may not operate any air route or new aircraft type without the Authority's approval; the Implementing Regulations set the conditions for approval.
يجب على شركات ومؤسسات النقل الجوي الوطنية عدم تشغيل أي خط جوي أو طراز جديد من الطائرات إلا بعد الحصول على موافقة الهيئة، وتحدد اللائحة شروط الحصول على هذه الموا
- Article 26
National and foreign air transport companies must obtain the Authority's prior approval before establishing, amending or canceling any air route, or changing the number of their flights to, from or within the Kingdom.
على شركات ومؤسسات النقل الجوي الوطنية والأجنبية قبل إنشاء أو تعديل أو إلغاء أي خط من خطوطها الجوية أو تعديل عدد رحلاتها التي تقوم بتشغيلها من المملكة وإليها أو
- Article 27
National airlines may not make operating or joint investment agreements with foreign airlines except under the Implementing Regulations; the Authority may accept or reject them with reasons within 30 days on limited grounds.
1- مع مراعاة أحكام المادة (العشرين) من هذا النظام؛ لا يجوز لمؤسسات أو شركات النقل الجوي الوطنية عقد اتفاقيات أو ترتيبات بينها وبين شركات ومؤسسات النقل الجوي الأ
- Article 28
A foreign airline may not open an office or representation in the Kingdom without the Authority's license on a reciprocity basis, and may assign its representation or agency only to a licensed Saudi company or agency approved by the Authority.
1- لا يجوز لأي مؤسسة أو شركة نقل جوي أو طيران أجنبية فتح مكتب أو تمثيل لها في المملكة إلا بعد الحصول على الترخيص اللازم من الهيئة وفقا لمبدأ المعاملة بالمثل. 2-
- Article 29
Ground handling work for aircraft at the Kingdom's civil airports requires a license from the Authority, which is issued to foreign air transport companies only on a reciprocity basis.
لا يجوز القيام بأعمال الخدمات الأرضية للطائرات في المطارات المدنية للمملكة إلا بعد الحصول على ترخيص بذلك من الهيئة، ولا يتم إصدار هذا الترخيص لمؤسسات أو شركات ا
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.