Article 7 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 7 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: سيادة المملكة وسلطاتها
Customs, security, passport, and health and agricultural quarantine personnel and any other competent body may inspect aircraft, persons and cargo within their jurisdiction, in the presence of a representative of the Authority.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لموظفي الجمارك والأمن والجوازات والحجر الصحي والزراعي وأي جهة مختصة أخرى الحق في تفتيش الطائرات ، أو أي شخص، أو حمولة على متنها وفقا لاختصاصاتها المقررة لها بموجب الأنظمة والقواعد المعمول بها في المملكة، ويجري هذا التفتيش بحضور ممثل من الهيئة وفقا لما تقرره الأنظمة أو اللوائح في هذا الخصوص.
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 7 explained in plain English
Alongside the Authority's power to inspect under Article 6, this article provides that other government bodies also have the right to inspect aircraft. They are:
- Customs personnel.
- Security personnel.
- Passport personnel.
- Health and agricultural quarantine personnel.
- Any other competent body.
Scope of the inspection: it covers the aircraft itself, any person on board, or any cargo on board.
Its safeguards:
- It is carried out according to each body's jurisdiction as set by the laws and rules in force, so no body exceeds its own jurisdiction.
- It takes place in the presence of a representative of the Authority, as provided by the laws or regulations on the subject.
The presence of the Authority's representative coordinates the requirements of these bodies with the requirements of flight safety. This article is linked to Article 8, which requires passengers, crew and consignors of goods to follow the residence, passport, customs, and health and agricultural quarantine rules on entering and leaving.
Practical example
A cargo aircraft arrived at Dammam airport, and customs and agricultural quarantine personnel wanted to inspect a shipment of plants on board. They are entitled to inspect within their jurisdictions, provided the inspection takes place in the presence of a representative of the Authority.
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 7 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can customs inspect the aircraft?
Yes. Customs, security, passport, and health and agricultural quarantine personnel and any other competent body may inspect aircraft, persons on board and cargo within their jurisdiction.
Must an aviation authority representative be present during the inspection?
Yes. The inspection takes place in the presence of a representative of the Authority, as provided by the laws or regulations.
More articles on Flight Permits and Aircraft Inspection
- Article 6
The Authority may inspect aircraft, prevent them from flying and seize their documents to monitor compliance with the Civil Aviation Law; the Implementing Regulations set the procedures.
مع عدم الإخلال بما تقرره الأنظمة الأخرى والمعاهدات الدولية؛ فإن للهيئة الحق في تفتيش الطائرات ومنعها من الطيران أو حجز أي وثائق تتعلق بها لمراقبة تنفيذ أحكام هذ
- Article 8
Passengers, crew members and consignors of goods must follow the residence, passport, customs, and health and agricultural quarantine rules when entering, staying in and leaving the Kingdom.
على الركاب وأعضاء الطاقم ومرسلي البضائع عند دخول المملكة والإقامة فيها والخروج منها اتباع الأنظمة والتعليمات والبيانات المتعلقة بالإقامة وجوازات السفر والجمارك
- Article 9
No aircraft may operate in the Kingdom's territory without a license or permit issued by the Authority; it is personal and cannot be assigned to others, and the Implementing Regulations set its conditions.
للهيئة صلاحية إصدار التراخيص والتصاريح للطائرات ، ولا يجوز لأي طائرة أن تعمل في إقليم المملكة إلا بموجب ترخيص أو تصريح تصدره الهيئة، ويعد الترخيص أو التصريح شخص
- Article 10
The article sets the requirements for an aircraft operating in the Kingdom: registration, a valid airworthiness certificate, markings, equipment, crew licenses and insurance, with possible exemptions for test and training aircraft except insurance.
1 - يجب أن تتوافر في الطائرة التي تعمل في إقليم المملكة ، الشروط الآتية: أ - أن تكون مسجلة في الدولة التابعة لها أو مسجلة وفقا لقواعد التسجيل الدولي أو المشترك.
- Article 11
No aircraft operating in the Kingdom may be fitted with radio equipment without approval of the state of registration, and it may only be used for air navigation purposes by the flight crew.
لا يجوز تجهيز أي طائرة تعمل في إقليم المملكة بأي أجهزة لاسلكية ما لم يكن لديها موافقة بذلك من السلطات المختصة في الدولة المسجلة فيها أو سلطة تسجيل العلامة العام
- Article 12
No dangerous goods may be carried by aircraft without a permit from the Authority and according to the procedures set by the Implementing Regulations, subject to international rules on carrying dangerous goods.
مع مراعاة الأنظمة الدولية المطبقة في نقل المواد الخطرة لا يجوز أن ينقل بالطائرة أي مواد خطرة إلا بتصريح من الهيئة. ووفقا للإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة.
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.