Article 84 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 84 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الرابع: صلاحية الطائرات للطيران
The article requires prior licensing by the Authority to manufacture aircraft or parts in the Kingdom and prior licensing for maintenance and overhaul, and places the Authority's oversight costs on the companies.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بما تقضي به الأنظمة الأخرى:
1 - لا يجوز صنع أي طائرة أو جزء منها في المملكة دون الحصول على ترخيص مسبق بذلك من الهيئة وفقا للأنظمة والقواعد المطبقة، وتحدد اللائحة الضوابط المنظمة لذلك.
2 - على الجهات والأشخاص الذين يقومون بصيانة الطائرات وعمرتها أن يستحصلوا على ترخيص مسبق بذلك وفقا للأنظمة والقواعد المطبقة، وتحدد اللائحة الضوابط المنظمة لذلك.
3 - تتحمل شركات ومؤسسات صناعة وصيانة الطائرات التكاليف والنفقات اللازمة لقيام الهيئة بأعمال المراقبة والمعاينة الضرورية.
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 84 explained in plain English
This article regulates aircraft manufacture, maintenance and overhaul (that is, comprehensive repair) in the Kingdom, without prejudice to what other laws provide.
- Manufacture: No aircraft, or part of one, may be manufactured in the Kingdom without prior licensing from the Authority under the applicable laws and rules. This covers manufacturing parts, not only a complete aircraft.
- Maintenance and overhaul: Entities and persons who maintain and overhaul aircraft must obtain prior licensing under the applicable laws and rules.
- Oversight costs: Aircraft manufacturing and maintenance companies and establishments bear the costs and expenses necessary for the Authority to carry out the necessary monitoring and inspection.
The Regulations set the controls governing manufacture and maintenance and overhaul; the text does not give their details. The phrase "without prejudice to what other laws provide" means this licensing does not replace any requirements imposed by other relevant laws.
This article follows Article 83, which gives the Authority the right to inspect an aircraft to verify its airworthiness and to suspend its certificate, so oversight extends from the aircraft itself to those who manufacture and maintain it. Anyone wishing to invest in this sector may seek the help of a lawyer specializing in civil aviation and investment law to learn the licensing requirements.
Practical example
An investor wants to set up an aircraft engine maintenance workshop at Dammam airport. They may not begin work before obtaining prior licensing under the applicable laws and rules, and their facility will bear the costs of the monitoring and inspection the Authority carries out.
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 84 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Do I need a license to manufacture aircraft spare parts in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. No aircraft, or part of one, may be manufactured in the Kingdom without prior licensing from the Authority.
Do aircraft maintenance workshops need a license?
Yes. Entities and persons who maintain and overhaul aircraft must obtain prior licensing.
Who pays the costs of the Authority's oversight of aircraft factories and workshops?
Aircraft manufacturing and maintenance companies and establishments bear the costs and expenses of the necessary monitoring and inspection.
More articles on Airworthiness and Maintenance of Aircraft
- 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 70
Before buying, leasing out or leasing any aircraft, a Saudi operator must verify that the aircraft meets the technical conditions and standards set by the Authority.
على المشغل السعودي قبل شراء أي طائرة ، أو تأجيرها، أو استئجارها؛ التحقق من توافر الشروط والمستويات الفنية التي تحددها الهيئة في الطائرة .
- Article 80
The article applies the international technical regulations and standards in the Chicago Convention and its annexes, as adopted by the Kingdom, to aircraft airworthiness, to achieve the highest safety levels with regard to the environment.
مع مراعاة الأحكام الواردة في هذا الفصل تطبق الأنظمة والمقاييس الفنية الدولية الواردة في معاهدة شيكاغو وملاحقها التي اعتمدتها المملكة لتحقيق أعلى مستويات السلامة
- Article 81
The Authority issues airworthiness certificates for aircraft registered in the Kingdom and validates foreign ones; no aircraft may fly in the territory without a valid certificate, and some domestic flights may be exempted.
1- تصدر الهيئة شهادات الصلاحية للطيران للطائرات المسجلة في المملكة، ولها اعتماد أي شهادة صلاحية طائرة للطيران صادرة من دولة أخرى لطائرة مسجلة في المملكة وفقا لل
- Article 82
The article requires technical records for every aircraft registered in the Kingdom, determining the aircraft's weight and preparing its weight schedule, and equipping it with the instruments prescribed in the Chicago Convention annexes.
1- يجب الاحتفاظ بسجلات فنية لكل طائرة مسجلة في المملكة، تدون فيها البيانات التي تحددها الهيئة. 2- يجب أن يحدد وزن كل طائرة تصدر أو تعتمد لها الهيئة شهادة صلاحية
- Article 83
The article gives the Authority the right to inspect an aircraft to verify its airworthiness, suspend its airworthiness certificate if necessary, and issue the necessary instructions, under the Regulations' controls.
للهيئة تفتيش الطائرة للتحقق من صلاحيتها للطيران، وتعليق شهادة صلاحية الطيران إذا لزم الأمر، وإصدار التعليمات اللازمة لذلك، وفقا للضوابط والإجراءات التي تحددها ا
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.

