Article 8 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 8 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: سيادة المملكة وسلطاتها
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على الركاب وأعضاء الطاقم ومرسلي البضائع عند دخول المملكة والإقامة فيها والخروج منها اتباع الأنظمة والتعليمات والبيانات المتعلقة بالإقامة وجوازات السفر والجمارك والحجر الصحي والزراعي .
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 8 explained in plain English
This article imposes a general obligation on everyone connected with an air journey when entering or leaving the Kingdom. Three groups are addressed:
- Passengers.
- Crew members.
- Consignors of goods.
The obligation covers three stages: entering the Kingdom, staying in it and leaving it.
At these stages they must follow the laws, instructions and notices relating to:
- Residence.
- Passports.
- Customs.
- Health and agricultural quarantine.
This article does not create new rules for entry or residence. It confirms that travelers, crew and shippers are subject to the laws that govern these matters, and the details of those requirements are found in their own laws, not in the Civil Aviation Law.
This article complements Article 7, which gives customs, security, passport and quarantine personnel the right to inspect aircraft, the persons on them and their cargo. Inspection is the tool of oversight, and this article sets out the corresponding obligation on travelers and shippers.
Practical example
A flight attendant working for a foreign company arrived at Jeddah airport for an overnight stay before her return flight. Like other passengers, she must follow the rules and instructions on passports, residence, customs and quarantine when she enters the Kingdom, stays in it and leaves it.
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 8 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Are aircraft crew subject to passport and customs procedures?
Yes. Crew members, like passengers and consignors of goods, must follow the residence, passport, customs, and health and agricultural quarantine rules.
Does the obligation apply to people shipping goods by air?
Yes. The article covers consignors of goods on entering, staying in and leaving the Kingdom.
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 7
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.
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 بمو
- 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.