Article 96 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 96 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب السادس: الإجازات وتعليم الطيران
No one may be trained to fly in the Kingdom except by an instructor holding a valid license that includes authority to train, and someone without the license may train only under an approved instructor in an aircraft without passengers.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لا يجوز لأي شخص أن يدرب شخصًا آخر على الطيران في المملكة لغرض إعداده للحصول على إجازة طيران أو تأهيله؛ ما لم يكن المدرب حاصلا على إجازة سارية المفعول لقيادة الطائرة المستخدمة في التدريب صادرة أو معتمدة من الهيئة وأن تتضمن هذه الإجازة صلاحيته للقيام بالتدريب المطلوب والأحوال التي يقوم فيها بالتدريب.
2- مع مراعاة أحكام الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة وأحكام المادة (الثالثة والتسعين) من هذا النظام، لا يجوز لغير حائز على إجازة الطيران المطلوبة أن يتمرن أو يتدرب كطيار لطائرة في إقليم المملكة إلا إذا كان تحت إشراف مدرب معتمد وكانت الطائرة بدون ركاب.
3- تحدد اللائحة شروط وضوابط تطبيق هذه المادة.
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 96 explained in plain English
This article regulates flight training in the Kingdom from two sides: the instructor and the trainee.
1- Conditions for the instructor: No person may train another to fly in the Kingdom to prepare them for a flight license or to qualify them, unless the instructor:
- holds a valid license to pilot the aircraft used in the training;
- the license is issued or validated by the Authority;
- and it includes their authority to give the required training and the circumstances in which they give it.
2- Conditions for the trainee: Subject to the first paragraph and the provisions of Article 93, someone who does not hold the required flight license may not practice or train as the pilot of an aircraft in the Kingdom's territory except:
- under the supervision of an approved instructor;
- and in an aircraft without passengers.
Article 93, referred to here, allows someone without the required license to work as a pilot on an aircraft registered in the Kingdom to receive training or to complete a test, provided the pilot-in-command holds the required licenses and no one is on board except a crew member, an observer, an inspector, an examiner or a person the Authority approves.
3- The Regulations set the conditions and controls for applying this article. Training institutes and instructors who need to determine the requirements in a particular case may consult the Authority or a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
Practical example
A private pilot offers to teach a friend to fly in his small aircraft. He may not do so unless his license is valid, issued or validated by the Authority, and includes authority for the required training, and his friend may practice only under an approved instructor and in an aircraft without passengers.
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 96 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
May any pilot train someone else to fly?
No. The instructor must hold a valid license to pilot the training aircraft, issued or validated by the Authority, that includes their authority to give the required training and the circumstances in which they give it.
May a trainee carry passengers while practicing?
No. Someone without the required license may train only under an approved instructor and in an aircraft without passengers.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Pilot Licenses and Flight Training
- Article 91
Anyone serving on the flight crew of any aircraft operating in the Kingdom's territory must hold a valid license issued by the State of registry, taking into account the standards of international treaties.
يشترط في من يعمل عضوا في هيئة قيادة أي طائرة تعمل في إقليم المملكة أن يكون حائزا على إجازة سارية المفعول صادرة عن دولة التسجيل وعن سلطة تسجيل العلامة العامة ، ت
- Article 92
Anyone serving on the flight crew of an aircraft registered in the Kingdom must hold a valid license entitling them to perform their duties, issued or validated by the Authority.
يشترط في من يعمل عضوا في هيئة قيادة أي طائرة مسجلة في المملكة أن يكون حائزا على إجازة سارية المفعول تخوله القيام بواجباته، صادرة عن الهيئة أو معتمدة منها.
- Article 93
The article exempts from the license requirement someone working as a pilot on an aircraft registered in the Kingdom for training or testing, provided the pilot-in-command holds the required licenses and with limits on who is on board.
لا يجوز لغير حائز الإجازة المطلوبة أن يعمل كطيار في طائرة مسجلة في المملكة إلا لتلقي التدريب، أو لإتمام الاختبار لغرض الحصول على إجازة طيران ، أو اعتمادها، أو ت
- Article 94
The Authority issues, validates and renews flight, air traffic controller, maintenance and other technical licenses and may create new ones; it may refuse to issue or renew them, and suspend and terminate them.
تختص الهيئة بإصدار واعتماد وتجديد إجازات الطيران وإجازات المراقبين الجويين وإجازات الصيانة والإجازات الفنية الأخرى المتعلقة بجميع أعمال خدمات الطيران المدني، كم
- Article 95
The article requires every flight crew member of an aircraft registered in the Kingdom, and everyone flying for qualification, to keep a personal flight record approved by the Authority, and not to deal with it without the Authority's permission.
على كل عضو في هيئة قيادة طائرة مسجلة في المملكة وكل شخص يقوم بالطيران لغرض التأهيل – سواء لتعليم الطيران، أو إتمام اختباراته، أو الحصول على إحدى إجازاته أو تجدي
- Article 97
No institute or other body may engage in civil aviation teaching, training in its arts, or any other air activity in the Kingdom without prior licensing from the Authority, which may suspend or withdraw the license.
لا يجوز لأي معهد أو أي جهة أخرى مزاولة تعليم الطيران المدني، أو التدريب على فنونه، أو ممارسة أي نشاط جوي آخر في المملكة إلا بموجب ترخيص مسبق من الهيئة، ويحق لله
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.

