Article 43 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 43 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: حقوق الارتفاق الجوية
The Authority may own the land and real estate needed to build, expand or connect its civil airports to transport routes, and the land for air navigation equipment stations, in accordance with the laws and instructions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحق للهيئة تملك الأراضي والعقارات اللازمة لإنشاء المطارات المدنية التابعة لها، أو توسيعها، أو ربطها بطرق المواصلات، وكذا تملك الأراضي اللازمة لمحطات الأجهزة الخاصة بالملاحة الجوية طبقا للأنظمة والتعليمات.
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 43 explained in plain English
This article gives the Authority the right to own the land and real estate needed for civil aviation projects, for specific purposes:
- Building the civil airports belonging to it.
- Expanding them.
- Connecting them to transport routes.
- Setting up air navigation equipment stations.
The control: this is done in accordance with the laws and instructions. The article establishes the right, but does not state how ownership is acquired, whether by purchase, expropriation or allocation, and does not address compensation or its procedures. These matters are known from the relevant laws and instructions, so no rule on them should be inferred from this article alone.
The important restriction is that the property must be needed for one of the stated purposes.
This article comes after Article 42, which requires owners of equipment that may obstruct navigation aids to comply with the competent authority's measures, and before Article 44, which regulates the Authority's role in maintaining security at airports. Anyone who owns property the Authority needs for an airport project would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in real estate and 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 43 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can the civil aviation authority acquire land to expand an airport?
The Authority may own the land and real estate needed to build its civil airports, expand them or connect them to transport routes, in accordance with the laws and instructions.
Does the article set how the owner is compensated?
No. The article establishes the right of ownership in accordance with the laws and instructions without stating its procedures or compensation.
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 38
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.
تحدد الهيئة مستوى الضوضاء المسموح بها للطائرات التي تستخدم مطارات المملكة، كما تحدد ارتفاعات وسرعات الطائرات وقدرات محركاتها وخلاف ذلك من الشروط والمواصفات الكف
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.