Article 49 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 49 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الأول: تسجيل الطائرات
No civil aircraft may fly in the Kingdom's territory without its nationality and registration marks; the Authority may permit an unregistered aircraft to fly or land for technical testing or other purposes.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لأي طائرة مدنية أن تطير في إقليم المملكة ما لم تكن تحمل علامة جنسيتها وتسجيلها طبقا لنظام دولة التسجيل ، أو سلطة تسجيل العلامة العامة ، ومع ذلك يجوز للهيئة أن تصرح لأي طائرة غير مسجلة بالطيران، أو الهبوط لأغراض التجربة الفنية، أو لأغراض أخرى في إقليم المملكة وذلك طبقا لما تقرره في هذا الشأن.
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 49 explained in plain English
This article falls within the provisions on aircraft registration, and sets a basic rule and then an exception.
The rule: no civil aircraft may fly in the territory of the Kingdom unless it carries its nationality and registration marks, in accordance with the law of the state of registration or the common-mark registration authority. Under Article 1, the state of registration is the state in which the aircraft is registered.
The marks here therefore follow the law of the state where the aircraft is registered, not necessarily Saudi law, unless the aircraft is Saudi.
The exception: the Authority may permit any unregistered aircraft to:
- fly,
- or land,
in the territory of the Kingdom, for:
- the purposes of technical testing,
- or other purposes,
as the Authority decides on the matter. The exception requires a permit and is not automatic.
It is followed by Article 50, under which the Authority determines the nationality and registration marks of national aircraft and how they are placed, according to international rules. Anyone who needs an exceptional permit can consult a lawyer specializing in aviation law.
Practical example
A Saudi company builds a prototype light aircraft that has not yet been registered, and wants to test fly it. It may not fly without nationality and registration marks, but the Authority may permit it to fly for technical testing as the Authority decides.
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 49 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can an unregistered aircraft fly in Saudi Arabia?
As a rule no, but the Authority may permit any unregistered aircraft to fly or land for technical testing or other purposes as it decides.
Under which law are the nationality marks placed on a foreign aircraft?
In accordance with the law of the state of registration or the common-mark registration authority.
More articles on Registering Aircraft and Rights Over Them
- Article 50
The Authority determines the nationality and registration marks of national aircraft and how they are placed on the aircraft, in accordance with the applicable international rules and laws.
تحدد الهيئة علامات جنسية وتسجيل الطائرات الوطنية ، كما تحدد طريقة وضعها على الطائرة وفقا للقواعد والأنظمة الدولية المطبقة في هذا الشأن.
- Article 51
The Authority maintains the Saudi National Register for Aircraft Registration, whose contents and registration conditions are set by the Implementing Regulations; a registered aircraft has the Kingdom's nationality.
1- تعد الهيئة سجلا لتسجيل الطائرات المدنية الوطنية يسمى ( السجل السعودي الوطني لتسجيل الطائرات )، وتحدد اللائحة البيانات التي يجب أن يتضمنها السجل والشروط الواج
- Article 52
The Authority issues aircraft registration certificates after completing the necessary procedures, each containing the data set by the Implementing Regulations.
تصدر الهيئة شهادات تسجيل الطائرات بعد إتمام الإجراءات اللازمة لذلك على أن تتضمن كل شهادة البيانات التي تحددها اللائحة.
- Article 53
An aircraft is deregistered if its owner or lessee loses Saudi nationality, ownership passes to a foreigner, it is lost or permanently withdrawn, the owner requests it or a registration condition ceases; the owner must notify the Authority and return the certificate.
1- تشطب الطائرة من السجل في الحالات الآتية: أ - إذا فقد مالكها أو مستأجرها جنسيته السعودية. ب - إذا انتقلت ملكيتها إلى شخص أجنبي. ج - إذا فقدت الطائرة أو سحبت
- Article 54
The provisions on rights over aircraft apply to all civil aircraft in the Kingdom's territory whatever their nationality and to Saudi civil aircraft wherever they are, but not to state aircraft.
تطبق أحكام هذا الفصل على جميع الطائرات المدنية أيًّا كانت جنسيتها حال وجودها في إقليم المملكة وكذلك على الطائرات المدنية السعودية في أي مكان كانت، ولا تسري أحكا
- Article 55
For the chapter on rights over aircraft, an aircraft means its airframe, engines, propellers, radio equipment and all parts designated to serve it, whether attached or temporarily detached.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في الفقرة (13) من المادة (الأولى) من هذا النظام، يقصد بتعبير ( الطائرة ) عند تطبيق أحكام هذا الفصل هيكلها والمحركات والمراوح وأجهزة اللاسلكي وك
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.