Article 97 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 97 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب السادس: الإجازات وتعليم الطيران
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 للهيئة تعليق أو سحب الترخيص في حالة مخالفة شروطها، أو مخالفة الأنظمة والتعليمات المعمول بها، وتحدد 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 97 explained in plain English
This article regulates the bodies that provide flight teaching and training, and extends to any other air activity.
What needs a license? No institute or other body may engage in any of the following in the Kingdom except under prior licensing from the Authority:
- teaching civil aviation;
- training in its arts;
- carrying on any other air activity.
The Authority's power after licensing: The Authority may suspend or withdraw the license if:
- its conditions are violated; or
- the applicable laws and instructions are violated.
The Regulations set the conditions and controls for applying this article, so the text does not give the detailed licensing requirements.
Practical effect: Anyone wishing to open a flight institute or academy must obtain the license before starting the activity, not after. After licensing, it remains bound by the license conditions and by the laws and instructions, because a violation may lead to suspension or withdrawal.
This article complements Article 96, which requires the instructor to hold a valid license that includes authority to train, and requires a trainee without a license to practice under an approved instructor and in an aircraft without passengers. Anyone planning to invest in flight education may seek help from a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
Practical example
A company in Taif plans to set up a flight academy. It may not begin accepting or training students before obtaining prior licensing from the Authority, and the Authority may suspend or withdraw the license if the academy violates its conditions or the laws and instructions.
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 97 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Do I need a license to open a flight training institute?
Yes. No institute or other body may engage in civil aviation teaching or training in its arts except under prior licensing from the Authority.
When is a flight institute's license withdrawn?
The Authority may suspend or withdraw the license if its conditions are violated or the applicable laws and instructions are violated.
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 96
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.
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
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.