Article 59 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 59 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: الحقوق على الطائرات
An aircraft is movable property under the Kingdom's laws; ownership of a national aircraft passes only by an official document, which has no effect against third parties until registered in the register.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تعد الطائرة مالا منقولا فيما يتعلق بتطبيق الأنظمة والقواعد النافذة في المملكة، ولا يتم نقل ملكية الطائرة الوطنية إلا بموجب سند رسمي، ولا يكون له أي أثر تجاه الغير إلا بعد قيده في السجل.
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 59 explained in plain English
This article contains three basic provisions on ownership of an aircraft:
- An aircraft is movable property: an aircraft is movable property for the purposes of applying the laws and rules in force in the Kingdom. It is not treated as real estate despite its value and its registration.
- An official document: ownership of a national aircraft passes only by an official document. An ordinary informal agreement is not enough to transfer ownership of national aircraft.
- Registration to invoke it against third parties: the document transferring ownership has no effect against third parties until it is registered in the register.
Note that the second and third provisions concern the national aircraft, whereas describing the aircraft as movable property is general for the purposes of applying the Kingdom's laws.
This is consistent with Article 58, which provides that rights over Saudi aircraft 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. It is followed by Article 60, which permits any legal disposition of a national aircraft, such as sale, lease or mortgage, on condition of registration for it to take effect against third parties.
Anyone who buys or sells an aircraft would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases to ensure the document is valid and registered.
Practical example
Khalid agreed with a company to buy a private aircraft registered in the Saudi register. Ownership passes only by an official document, and that document has no effect against third parties, such as the creditors of the selling company, until it is registered in the register.
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 59 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Is an aircraft real estate or movable property in Saudi Arabia?
An aircraft is movable property for the purposes of applying the laws and rules in force in the Kingdom.
How is ownership of a Saudi aircraft transferred?
Ownership of a national aircraft passes only by an official document, which has no effect against third parties until it is registered in the register.
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.