Article 38 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 38 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الأول: إنشاء المطارات وإدارتها واستعمالها
The Authority sets the permitted noise level for aircraft using the Kingdom's airports, and the heights, speeds, engine capacities and other conditions that keep aircraft within that level.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تحدد الهيئة مستوى الضوضاء المسموح بها للطائرات التي تستخدم مطارات المملكة، كما تحدد ارتفاعات وسرعات الطائرات وقدرات محركاتها وخلاف ذلك من الشروط والمواصفات الكفيلة بعدم تجاوز المستوى المشار إليه.
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 38 explained in plain English
This article addresses an important environmental effect of aviation, aircraft noise, and assigns its regulation to the Authority.
What the Authority determines:
- The permitted noise level for aircraft using the Kingdom's airports.
- The conditions and specifications that ensure this level is not exceeded, including:
- Aircraft heights.
- Their speeds.
- Their engine capacities.
- Other conditions and specifications.
The article does not merely set a noise limit; it gives the Authority operational and technical tools to achieve it, such as requiring particular heights or speeds.
Its scope is aircraft that use the Kingdom's airports, whether national or foreign. The article gives no figures for the noise level and no penalty for exceeding it; these are matters for the Authority to determine and for the other provisions of the law. Nor does the article address any right of residents of neighboring areas to compensation, so no rule on that should be inferred from it.
It comes after Article 37 on using declared airports, and before Article 39 on the Authority's supervision of airport workers.
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 38 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Who sets the permitted aircraft noise level in Saudi Arabia?
The Authority sets the permitted noise level for aircraft using the Kingdom's airports.
How does the Authority control aircraft noise?
It sets aircraft heights and speeds, engine capacities and other conditions and specifications that ensure the permitted level is not exceeded.
More articles on Airports and Aviation Security
- Article 33
Civil airports and landing strips for civil aircraft in the Kingdom may not be established, prepared, used or operated as an investment without the Authority's approval.
لا يجوز إنشاء وإعداد المطارات المدنية أو المهابط للطائرات المدنية في المملكة، أو استعمالها أو استثمارها؛ إلا بعد الحصول على موافقة من الهيئة.
- Article 34
Airports, facilities, buildings, equipment, wired and wireless stations and beacons belonging to the Authority are public utilities.
تعد المطارات والمنشآت والمباني والأجهزة والمعدات والمحطات السلكية واللاسلكية والمنارات التابعة للهيئة من المرافق العامة .
- Article 35
The Authority manages its airports and supervises their operation, maintenance and working rules, and may license others to do all or part of this without affecting civil aviation security and safety.
مع مراعاة أحكام الفقرة (5) من المادة (السادسة عشرة) من هذا النظام تتولى الهيئة إدارة المطارات التابعة لها والإشراف على تشغيلها وصيانتها ووضع قواعد العمل بها، وي
- Article 36
The Authority determines the types and categories of airports in coordination with the competent bodies.
تحدد الهيئة أنواع المطارات وفئاتها بالتنسيق مع الجهات المختصة.
- Article 37
Aircraft use declared civil airports in line with their rules, and may not land elsewhere except in emergencies and as the Implementing Regulations provide.
تستعمل الطائرات المطارات المدنية المعلن عنها، وعليها مراعاة الضوابط والقواعد الخاصة بذلك. ولا يجوز لها الهبوط في غير هذه المطارات المعلن عنها إلا في الحالات الا
- Article 39
The Authority, in coordination with the relevant bodies, supervises workers at its airports to ensure compliance with airport rules and the smooth running of work, without prejudice to government bodies' jurisdiction.
مع عدم الإخلال بمباشرة الجهات الحكومية العاملة في المطارات لاختصاصاتها، تشرف الهيئة بالتنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة على العاملين في المطارات التابعة لها وذلك في
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.