Article 67 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 67 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: الحقوق على الطائرات
An aircraft's registration may not be transferred from the register to another State's register, or the reverse, until the registered rights are settled or their holders consent, except in a forced sale.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
فيما عدا حالة البيع الجبري الذي يتم وفقًا لأحكام المادة الثالثة والستين من هذا النظام؛ لا يجوز نقل أي قيد أو تسجيل الطائرة من السجل إلى سجل دولة أخرى أو العكس إلا بعد تسوية الحقوق المقيدة على الطائرة ، أو بعد موافقة أصحاب هذه الحقوق على ذلك.
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 67 explained in plain English
This article protects the holders of rights registered on an aircraft, such as a mortgagee or lessor, against the aircraft being moved to another State's register in a way that weakens their rights or puts them out of reach.
The rule: No entry or registration of the aircraft may be transferred from the register to the register of another State, or the reverse, unless one of two things is met:
- the rights registered on the aircraft are settled; or
- the holders of those rights consent to the transfer.
The exception: a forced sale carried out under Article 63. The reason is that a forced sale under that article transfers ownership of the aircraft to the buyer free of all rights, and takes place only after the rights ranking ahead of the seizing creditor's right have been paid from the price or assumed by the buyer, so the consent of the holders of earlier rights is no longer needed.
In practice, anyone who wants to sell an aircraft registered in the Kingdom to a party abroad, or move an aircraft registered abroad to the Saudi register, should first make sure the aircraft has no registered rights or obtain the consent of their holders. It is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law and aircraft finance before completing such transactions.
Practical example
An airline in Riyadh wants to sell an aircraft mortgaged to a local bank to a foreign buyer who will register it in their own country. The aircraft's registration may not be transferred from the Saudi register until the bank's debt is paid and the mortgage settled, or the bank consents to the transfer.
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 67 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can the registration of a mortgaged aircraft be transferred to another country?
Not unless the rights registered on the aircraft are settled or their holders consent.
Does this requirement apply to an aircraft sold by forced sale?
No. The article excepts a forced sale carried out under Article 63.
Does the rule cover moving an aircraft from a foreign register to the Saudi register?
Yes. The article prevents transfer from the register to another State's register or the reverse, except after settlement or consent.
Articles this article refers to
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.