Article 60 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 60 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: الحقوق على الطائرات
Any legal disposition of a national aircraft, such as sale, lease or mortgage, to any person is permitted, but it does not take effect against third parties until registered in the register.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز إجراء أي تصرف قانوني على أي طائرة وطنية إلى أي شخص بالبيع أو الإيجار أو الرهن، أو أي تصرف شرعي أو قانوني آخر، ولا يسري هذا التصرف في مواجهة 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 60 explained in plain English
This article establishes freedom to dispose of a national aircraft, with a restriction that protects third parties.
Disposition is permitted: any legal disposition may be made of any national aircraft to any person, including:
- Sale.
- Lease.
- Mortgage.
- Or any other disposition under Islamic law or the law.
The condition for taking effect against third parties: this disposition does not take effect against third parties until it is registered in the register. By the text of this article, registration is not a condition for the validity of the disposition between its parties, but it is a condition for its effect against others.
This article does not address other effects that may follow from the disposition under other provisions of the law, so no rule on that should be inferred from it alone.
It comes after Article 59, which requires an official document to transfer ownership of a national aircraft and its registration to have effect against third parties. It is followed by Article 61, which regulates the privileged debts that rank ahead of all other rights and debts over aircraft. Anyone entering into a contract over an aircraft would do well to register it promptly and to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases.
Practical example
A Saudi company leased its aircraft registered in the national register to another company for one year. The contract is permitted, but it does not take effect against third parties, such as a later buyer of the aircraft or a creditor of the owner, 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 60 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can a Saudi aircraft be leased or mortgaged?
Yes. Any legal disposition of a national aircraft may be made, by sale, lease, mortgage or any other disposition under Islamic law or the law.
When is an aircraft contract effective against others?
The disposition does not take 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.