Article 44 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 44 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثالث: حماية المطارات والطائرات والتجهيزات الملاحية
The Authority, with the other competent authorities, enforces the rules and takes necessary measures to keep airports secure and aircraft and navigation aids safe, including restricting access, verifying identities and searching suspect passengers.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة ما تقرره الأنظمة في هذا الخصوص تقوم الهيئة بالاشتراك مع السلطات المختصة الأخرى بتنفيذ الأنظمة والتعليمات واتخاذ ما تراه ضروريا لحفظ الأمن بمطارات المملكة وضمان سلامة الطائرات والمساعدات الملاحية وللهيئة في سبيل ذلك أن تقوم بالآتي:
1 - تقييد أو منع دخول الأفراد إلى بعض المناطق في المطارات .
2- التحقق من شخصية الأفراد والمركبات التي تدخل المطار ومراقبتها واستجواب أي شخص يشتبه فيه إذا ما تطلب الأمر ذلك.
3- تفتيش أي راكب يشتبه في حمله أسلحة أو مواد قابلة للاشتعال، أو أي مواد أخرى يمكن استعمالها في أي عمل من أعمال التخريب أو العنف أو التهديد أثناء الرحلة.
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 44 explained in plain English
This article regulates the security of airports, aircraft and navigation aids. The Authority, together with the other competent authorities, enforces the laws and instructions and takes what it considers necessary to:
- Maintain security at the Kingdom's airports.
- Ensure the safety of aircraft and navigation aids.
This is subject to what the laws provide on the matter.
The Authority's powers:
- Restricting or preventing individuals' access to some areas in airports.
- Verifying the identity of individuals and vehicles entering the airport and monitoring them, and questioning any suspected person if necessary.
- Searching any passenger suspected of carrying weapons or flammable materials, or any other materials that could be used in an act of sabotage, violence or threat during the flight.
Note that questioning and searching in the text are tied to the existence of suspicion, and that questioning is limited to cases where it is necessary.
It is followed by Article 45, which requires searching air mail and parcels when there is doubt. Anyone who has been subjected to a security measure at the airport and believes it went beyond the law can consult a lawyer specializing in criminal or administrative cases.
Practical example
Airport security staff noticed a passenger carrying a bag suspected of containing flammable materials before he boarded the aircraft. This passenger may be searched, because the article permits searching any passenger suspected of carrying materials that could be used in sabotage or violence during the flight.
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 44 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can a passenger be searched at the airport?
The Authority may search any passenger suspected of carrying weapons or flammable materials or materials that could be used in sabotage, violence or threat during the flight.
Can access to some areas of the airport be prevented?
Yes. The Authority may restrict or prevent individuals' access to some areas in airports.
Can someone be questioned at the airport?
The Authority may question any suspected person if necessary.
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.