Article 58 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 58 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: الحقوق على الطائرات
Foreign aircraft's registration effects follow their own law; rights over Saudi aircraft bind third parties only from registration or deposit of the document; interested parties may request certified copies.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تحدد القوانين والأنظمة الخاضعة لها الطائرة المدنية الأجنبية حسب جنسيتها الآثار المترتبة على قيد الحقوق على هذه الطائرة في مواجهة الغير.
2- لا تسري الحقوق على الطائرات المدنية السعودية في مواجهة الغير إلا من تاريخ قيدها في السجل أو تاريخ إيداع سند إنشائها في ملفات هذه الطائرات الموجودة لدى الهيئة.
3- يجوز لكل ذي مصلحة أن يطلب من الهيئة تسليمه مراسلات أو صور أو مستخرجات مصدقة بأنها طبق الأصل وتكون حجة لما ورد في السجل أو في الملفات المشار إليها وذلك حتى يقوم الدليل على عكسها.
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 58 explained in plain English
This article explains the effect of registering rights over aircraft, that is, when a right can be invoked against someone who is not a party to it.
Foreign aircraft (paragraph 1): the laws and regulations to which a foreign aircraft is subject according to its nationality determine the effects of registering rights over it against third parties.
Saudi aircraft (paragraph 2): rights do not take effect against third parties except from the date of:
- their registration in the register,
- or the deposit of the document creating them in the aircraft's files at the Authority.
A right before registration or deposit may be effective between its two parties, but it cannot be invoked against third parties, such as a later buyer or another creditor.
Official extracts (paragraph 3): any interested party may request the Authority to give him correspondence, copies or extracts certified as true copies. These extracts are evidence of what is contained in the register or files until proof to the contrary is established.
This is linked to Article 57, which regulates registration and deposit, and Article 59, which requires the registration of the document transferring ownership of a national aircraft for it to have effect against third parties. Anyone dealing in an aircraft would do well to request an extract from the register before contracting, and to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases.
Practical example
Before an investor bought a used Saudi aircraft, he asked the Authority for a certified extract from the register to learn what rights were on it. The extract is evidence of what is in the register until proof to the contrary is established, and any mortgage that was not registered or whose document was not deposited does not take effect against him.
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 58 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
When is a mortgage on a Saudi aircraft effective against third parties?
Rights over Saudi aircraft do not take effect against third parties except from the date of their registration in the register or the date of depositing the document creating them in their files at the Authority.
Can an official certificate be obtained from the aircraft register?
Any interested party may request correspondence, copies or extracts from the Authority certified as true copies, which are evidence of what is in the register until proof to the contrary is established.
More articles on Registering Aircraft and Rights Over Them
- Article 49
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.
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 لله
- 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
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.