Article 90 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 90 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب الخامس: قواعد الجو
The article allows the Authority to prohibit or restrict flight over certain areas, or exceptionally over the whole territory, to define dangerous areas, and to set the prohibited acts for operators and pilots-in-command.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للهيئة أن تحظر أو تقيد تحليق الطائرات فوق:
أ - مناطق معينة في إقليم المملكة لأسباب أمنية أو لمتطلبات المصلحة العامة .
ب - إقليم المملكة كله أو جزء منه في الأحوال الاستثنائية لأسباب تتعلق بالمصلحة العامة .
2 - للهيئة أن تحدد المناطق الخطرة وتعلن عنها، وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات التي تتبع في حال الطيران فوق المناطق المحظورة.
3- تحدد الهيئة الأعمال المحظورة التي يجب على كل من مشغل الطائرة وقائدها مراعاتها والتقيد بالتعليمات التي تصدرها في شأنها، والإجراءات الواجب اتخاذها حال ارتكابها. وفقا لما تحدده اللائحة.
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 90 explained in plain English
This article gives the Authority the power to restrict use of the airspace to protect security and the public interest.
1- Prohibiting or restricting flight: The Authority may prohibit or restrict aircraft flight over:
- certain areas in the Kingdom's territory for security reasons or public interest requirements;
- the whole or part of the Kingdom's territory in exceptional circumstances for reasons relating to the public interest.
2- Dangerous areas: The Authority may define and announce dangerous areas, and the Regulations set the procedures to follow when flying over prohibited areas.
3- Prohibited acts: The Authority determines the prohibited acts that the aircraft operator and the pilot-in-command must observe, the instructions they must follow regarding them, and the procedures to take if they are committed, as the Regulations specify.
The article does not name particular areas or list the prohibited acts, but leaves their determination to the Authority and the Regulations, so operators and pilots must follow what the Authority announces.
This article follows Article 89, which gives the Authority power to set the rules of the air, air routes and corridors and the pilot-in-command's responsibilities, and so completes the system for regulating the skies with tools of prohibition and restriction. Anyone facing liability for flying over a prohibited area should consult a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
Practical example
The Authority announces a restriction on flight over a certain area near a vital facility for security reasons. Every operator and pilot-in-command passing near it must comply with this restriction, and follow the procedures set by the Regulations if they have to fly over 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 90 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can the Kingdom's entire airspace be closed?
The Authority may prohibit or restrict flight over the whole or part of the Kingdom's territory in exceptional circumstances for reasons relating to the public interest.
Who defines dangerous areas?
The Authority defines and announces dangerous areas.
What does a pilot do if they must fly over a prohibited area?
The Regulations set the procedures to follow when flying over prohibited areas; the article does not give their details.
More articles on Rules of the Air and Prohibited Areas
- Article 13
No aircraft fitted with cameras or aerial survey equipment may fly in the Kingdom, and such equipment may not be used, without a permit from the Authority and under its conditions.
لا يجوز الطيران في إقليم المملكة بطائرات مجهزة بآلات التصوير أو المسح الجوي أو استعمال هذه الآلات إلا بتصريح من الهيئة ووفقا للشروط التي تحددها في هذا الشأن.
- Article 89
The Authority sets the rules of the air, flight and navigation regulations, air routes and corridors, and the pilot-in-command's responsibilities; the Regulations set airspace rules and flight altitudes.
1- تحدد الهيئة قواعد الجو والأنظمة المتعلقة بتحليق الطائرات والملاحة الجوية وحماية الأشخاص والممتلكات على السطح واستعمال الفضاء الجوي . 2- تحدد الهيئة الطرق وال
- Article 123
The article requires the competent authorities to allow persons, vehicles and equipment carrying out search and rescue to enter any prohibited area where the aircraft is or the accident occurred, under the Authority's supervision.
على السلطات المختصة أن تسمح للأشخاص والآليات والمعدات بما فيها الطائرات والسفن التي تقوم بعمليات البحث والإنقاذ بدخول أي منطقة محظورة إذا كانت الطائرة موجودة في
- Article 175
Articles 37, 89 and 90 apply to all national and foreign military aircraft flying in air corridors or using civil airports in the Kingdom, and Articles 6, 7 and 12 apply to foreign military aircraft flying and landing in the territory.
1- تسري أحكام المواد (السابعة والثلاثين) و(التاسعة والثمانين) و(التسعين) من هذا النظام على جميع الطائرات العسكرية الوطنية والأجنبية أثناء الطيران في الممرات الج
- Article 176
A foreign military aircraft may not fly or land in the Kingdom's territory except under an international or bilateral agreement, with a special permit from the Authority after coordination, and carrying its distinctive marks clearly.
لا يجوز لأي طائرة عسكرية أجنبية التحليق أو الهبوط في إقليم المملكة إلا بموجب اتفاقية دولية تكون المملكة طرفًا فيها، أو اتفاقية ثنائية مع الدولة التابعة لها الطا
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.