Article 73 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 73 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثالث: الحجز على الطائرات
The article bars precautionary seizure of non-commercial State-service aircraft, scheduled-service aircraft and their indispensable spares, and commercial aircraft about to depart, except for a debt tied to the flight.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1 - لا يوقع الحجز التحفظي على ما يأتي :
أ - الطائرات المخصصة لخدمة الدولة، ويستثنى من ذلك ما خصص لخدمة التجارة.
ب - الطائرات المستخدمة فعلا وبصورة مطلقة على خط جوي منتظم، وكذلك الطائرات الاحتياطية التي لا غنى عنها.
ج - كل طائرة أخرى معدة لعمليات نقل الأشخاص أو الأموال بمقابل متى كانت على وشك الرحيل لمثل هذا النقل؛ إلا في الحالة التي يتعلق فيها الأمر بدين نشأ بسبب الرحلة التي ستقوم بها الطائرة أو نشأ من خلال الرحلة.
2 - لا تسري أحكام هذه المادة على الحجز التحفظي الذي يوقعه المالك الذي فقد حيازة طائرة بفعل غير مشروع.
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 73 explained in plain English
This article protects certain aircraft from precautionary seizure, in order to safeguard public services and the continuity of air transport.
Precautionary seizure may not be imposed on:
- (a) Aircraft assigned to State service, except those assigned to commerce, which may be seized.
- (b) Aircraft actually and exclusively used on a scheduled air route, and the spare aircraft that are indispensable.
- (c) Any other aircraft intended to carry persons or goods for payment when it is about to depart for that carriage, unless the debt arose from the flight the aircraft is about to make or arose during the flight.
Important exception: These bars do not apply to a precautionary seizure imposed by the owner who lost possession of their aircraft through an unlawful act, for example where it was taken from them without right; they may seize even these aircraft.
This article follows Article 72, which excludes certain measures from the chapter, and precedes Article 74, which allows a sufficient guarantee to prevent or lift a seizure in the cases where it is permitted. To assess whether a particular aircraft is covered by the bar, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in enforcement and civil aviation matters.
Practical example
A creditor of an airline wanted to seize an aircraft operating on a scheduled route between Riyadh and Abha for an old debt unrelated to the flights. A precautionary seizure may not be imposed on this aircraft because it is actually and exclusively used on a scheduled air route.
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 73 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can an aircraft about to take off be seized?
Not if it is intended to carry persons or goods for payment and is about to depart, unless the debt arose from the flight or during it.
Can State aircraft be seized?
No. Seizure may not be imposed on aircraft assigned to State service, except those assigned to commerce.
Can an owner seize their own aircraft that was taken from them without right?
Yes. The bars in this article do not apply to a seizure imposed by an owner who lost possession of their aircraft through an unlawful act.
More articles on Attaching Aircraft
- Article 62
Where an aircraft is attached or sold by force, creating or transferring Article 56 rights is not recognized if the debtor did so knowing of the proceedings and intending to harm the attaching creditor, the enforcing party or the buyer.
في حالة توقيع الحجز ، أو إجراء البيع الجبري لطائرة ، أو أي حق عليها؛ لا يجوز الاعتراف بإنشاء أو بنقل أي من الحقوق الواردة في الفقرة (1) من المادة (السادسة والخم
- Article 63
A forced sale of an aircraft follows the procedures of the laws in force and the Implementing Regulations; a sale breaching them can be annulled within six months, and the buyer takes ownership free of all rights.
1 - إذا تقرر بيع الطائرة جبريًّا في المملكة لتسديد الديون المستحقة عليها؛ فإن إجراءات البيع الجبري تتم وفقا للإجراءات التي تحددها الأحكام والأنظمة المطبقة في ال
- Article 65
A forced sale of an aircraft also covers the spare parts seized with it; the article governs auctioning them at two-thirds of value where the seizing creditor's debt has no security interest, and distributing the proceeds.
1- إذا تقرر بيع الطائرة جبريًّا وفقًا للمادة (الثالثة والستين) من هذا النظام فإن هذا البيع يشمل قطع الغيار المحجوز عليها، ويتم نقل ملكيتها للمشتري الجديد. 2- إذ
- Article 71
The article defines a precautionary seizure of an aircraft as any act that grounds the aircraft for a private interest through the courts or competent authorities, and gives the Authority the right to ground it for unpaid fees.
يقصد بالحجز التحفظي في مفهوم هذا الفصل: كل تصرف أيًّا كانت تسميته يتم بمقتضاه وقف الطائرة رعاية لمصلحة خاصة عن طريق القضاء أو السلطات المختصة لصالح الدائن أو ال
- Article 72
The article excludes from the seizure chapter the precautionary measures in bankruptcy proceedings and those taken for violating this Law, the customs or penal laws, or the security rules.
لا تسري أحكام هذا الفصل على الإجراءات التحفظية الخاصة بدعاوى الإفلاس، ولا على الإجراءات التحفظية التي تتخذ عند مخالفة أحكام هذا النظام، أو الأنظمة الجمركية ، أو
- Article 74
The article allows a precautionary seizure of an aircraft to be prevented or lifted at once by providing a sufficient guarantee covering the debt and expenses, or the aircraft's value if that is higher.
1- في الحالة التي لا يكون فيها الحجز التحفظي على الطائرة محظورًا أو لا يجوز فيها توقيع الحجز ، ولم يدفع المشغل بعدم جواز مثل هذا الحجز ؛ فإن تقديم كفالة كافية ي
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.