Article 27 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 27 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: الترخيص لشركات الطيران وتشغيلها
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 الأجنبية تتعلق بتشغيل، أو استثمار مشترك بأي عمليات نقل جوي تجاري إلا وفقا للقواعد والشروط التي تحددها اللائحة، ولا يجوز البدء في تنفيذ أي من هذه الاتفاقيات أو الترتيبات إلا بعد استكمال الإجراءات النظامية اللازمة.
2- للهيئة حق قبول أو رفض هذه الاتفاقيات أو الترتيبات خلال فترة أقصاها ثلاثون يومًا من تاريخ الإشعار، ويتوجب على الهيئة تعليل أي رفض، ويحصر الرفض بحالات الإخلال بقواعد المنافسة والسلامة وسياسات المملكة العامة، وتحدد اللائحة أصول ذلك.
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 27 explained in plain English
This article regulates agreements between national and foreign airlines, and applies subject to Article 20, which limits making agreements to exchange or grant air transport rights with foreign parties to the Authority.
Paragraph 1 – the restriction: national air transport companies may not make agreements or arrangements with foreign companies relating to the operation or joint investment in any commercial air transport operations except:
- in accordance with the rules and conditions set by the Implementing Regulations.
- and implementation may not begin until the necessary legal procedures have been completed.
Paragraph 2 – the Authority's role:
- The Authority may accept or reject the agreement within a maximum of 30 days from the date of notification.
- The Authority must give reasons for any rejection.
- Rejection is limited to cases of breach of the competition rules, safety, or the general policies of the Kingdom; it may not reject on any other ground.
- The Implementing Regulations set the rules for this.
This article comes after Article 26 on approving routes and before Article 28 on foreign companies' offices. Anyone whose agreement has been rejected can consult a lawyer specializing in commercial or administrative cases.
Practical example
A Saudi airline concluded a joint operating agreement with a foreign airline and notified the Authority. The Authority may accept or reject it within 30 days of notification, and if it rejects it, it must give reasons based on a breach of the competition rules, safety or the Kingdom's general policies.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 27 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
How long does the Authority have to respond to airline agreements?
The Authority may accept or reject the agreement within a maximum of 30 days from the date of notification.
When may the Authority reject an agreement between a Saudi and a foreign company?
Rejection is limited to cases of breach of the competition rules, safety and the Kingdom's general policies, and it must be reasoned.
Can the agreement be implemented as soon as it is signed?
No. Implementation may not begin until the necessary legal procedures have been completed.
Articles this article refers to
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 24
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.
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 وخارج
- 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 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.