Issued by Council of Ministers Decision 807
Article 1
The following terms and phrases—wherever they appear in this system—have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:
Kingdom:
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Authority:
The General Authority of Civil Aviation.
System:
The system of the authority.
Minister:
The Minister of Transport and Logistics Services.
Board:
The board of directors of the authority.
President:
President of the authority.
Civil aviation:
All matters related to aviation, except military aviation.
Territory of the Kingdom:
The land territory and territorial sea of the Kingdom and the airspace above them.
Article 2
The authority enjoys legal personality and financial and administrative independence. It is legally affiliated with the minister, its headquarters must be in the City of Riyadh, and it may establish branches or offices inside and outside the Kingdom as needed.
Article 3
The authority aims to regulate and develop the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom, monitor its performance, prepare it to attract private sector investments, and develop and grow the air transportation industry in the territory of the Kingdom, in line with the national strategy for transportation and logistics services.
Article 4
In order to achieve its objectives, the authority may—without prejudice to the mandates of other relevant entities—exercise the following mandates and carry out the following tasks:
1․ Developing policies and strategies, preparing laws and regulations related to the civil aviation sector, and reporting on matters that require completion of legal procedures in their regard.
2․ Supervising the operation of civil airports and airfields, and the compliance of airlines, airports and companies operating in the civil aviation sector with the laws, regulations, and standards relating to the civil aviation sector, with the implementation of the civil aviation strategy, and with the sustainability of business.
3․ Issuing licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations, approvals, and accreditations related to civil aviation.
4․ Setting security procedures and standards related to civil aviation and following up on their implementation, in accordance with local and international requirements and developments and in coordination with the relevant entities.
5․ Deciding on applications to practice intermediary works related to the civil aviation sector, in accordance with the procedures set by the authority.
6․ Issuing permits for scheduled, non-scheduled, and private flights, including military and diplomatic flights, in accordance with the controls and procedures set by the authority.
7․ Deciding on applications to provide consulting services relating to the civil aviation sector in accordance with the procedures set by the authority.
8․ Setting unified standards for smart airports and communication technologies to improve and enrich passenger experiences, and ensuring the application of international and local best practices without prejudice to the security of information and data in the civil aviation field, in coordination with the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission.
9․ Organizing and supervising environmental protection programs in the civil aviation field—in coordination with the relevant entities—in line with local and international standards.
10․ Approving contracts between a licensed airport operator and third parties, for the purposes of safety, security, facilitation, and service quality standards, without prejudice to the relevant laws and regulations.
11․ Supervising the management of the use of air communication frequencies licensed for use in the civil aviation field, in accordance with the controls set by the authority, and coordinating in this regard with the relevant entities.
12․ Issuing a Saudi aviation manual, containing the necessary aviation information for air navigation in the territory of the Kingdom, and issuing civil aviation information bulletins.
13․ Coordinating with the relevant entities to ensure the safety and security of civil aviation in the territory of the Kingdom.
14․ Defining terms relating to the civil aviation sector, without prejudice to the provisions of international treaties and agreements relating to civil aviation ratified by the Kingdom.
15․ Taking the necessary measures to implement international conventions and agreements relating to civil aviation ratified by the Kingdom.
16․ Approving the commercial agreements and arrangements signed between national or foreign air carriers, when operating from and to the territory of the Kingdom, taking into account the economic, social, and security aspects, in accordance with the provisions of international conventions and agreements relating to civil aviation ratified by the Kingdom.
17․ Signing agreements, memorandums of understanding, and protocols relating to civil aviation, in accordance with the established legal procedures.
18․ Representing the Kingdom in regional and international organizations and committees relating to civil aviation, in accordance with the established legal procedures.
19․ Holding exhibitions, conferences, scientific seminars, and workshops relating to civil aviation, in accordance with the established legal procedures.
20․ Conducting technical investigations into civil aviation accidents and incidents, without prejudice to the mandates of the National Transport Safety Center.
Article 5
1․ The authority must have a board of directors chaired by the minister and the membership of the following:
(a) The president.
(b) Not more than five representatives from government entities.
(c) Not more than three persons from the private sector.
2․ The rank of the representatives of the government entities referred to in paragraph 1(b) of this article must not be less than the 14th rank or its equivalent.
3․ The chairman of the board shall submit to the Council of Economic and Development Affairs matters related to the identification of the government entities referred to in paragraph 1(b) of this article, in preparation for the issuance of an order for this by the Prime Minister.
4․ The appointment of the persons referred to in paragraph 1(c) of this article must be issued by an order of the Prime Minister based on a proposal by the chairman of the board.
5․ With the exception of the chairman of the board and the president, the term of membership in the board is three years, renewable for a similar period and for one time.
6․ The chairman of the board may delegate whomever he deems fit to chair the board—in his absence—from among the representatives of the government entities referred to in paragraph 1(b) of this article.
Article 6
The board shall supervise the management of the affairs of the authority and the conduct of its business, and shall take all the necessary decisions to achieve its objectives within the limits of the provisions of the system, and in particular, it may carry out the following:
1․ Approving the policies and strategies relating to the mandates of the authority, and approving the plans and programs necessary for their implementation, in preparation for submitting matters that require the completion of legal procedures in their regard.
2․ Proposing draft laws relating to the mandates of the authority, and proposing to amend those in force, in preparation for submitting them to complete the established legal procedures.
3․ Approving the organizational structure of the authority.
4․ Approving the financial and administrative regulations governing the authority, and other internal and technical regulations necessary for the management of its affairs, provided that the approval of the administrative regulations is in agreement with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and that the approval of the financial regulations and provisions with financial impact in other regulations is in agreement with the Ministry of Finance.
5․ Approving the establishment of branches and offices of the authority.
6․ Reviewing the periodic reports submitted on the progress of work in the authority and undertaking the matters necessary in their regard.
7․ Approving the draft budget of the authority, its final account, the accounts auditor report, and its annual report, in preparation for their approval in accordance with the established legal procedures.
8․ Determining the fee for the services and works provided by the authority, which the board deems appropriate to collect a fee for.
9․ Approving the investment of the funds of the authority in order to achieve its objectives, in accordance with the established legal mechanisms and procedures.
10․ Approving the signing of agreements, memorandums of understanding, protocols, and contracts, in accordance with the established legal procedures.
11․ Accepting donations, gifts, grants, bequests, and awqaf, in accordance with the provisions governing this.
12․ Appointing an external accounts auditor and an internal financial controller.
The board may delegate some of its mandates—except for the mandates mentioned in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this article—to the chairman of the board or to any of its members or authority personnel it deems fit.
The board may form standing or temporary committees from among its members or others, and delegate some of its mandates to them or entrust them with the tasks it deems fit. The decision to form each committee must specify its chairman, members, secretary, and mandates.
The committee may seek the assistance from whomever it deems fit to perform the mandates delegated to it and the tasks entrusted to it.
Article 7
1․ The meetings of the board must be held in the authority, and it is permitted, when necessary, to hold them in another place inside the Kingdom.
2․ The board shall meet—at the invitation of the chairman of the board or his delegate—at least once every three months, whenever the need arises as determined by the chairman of the board, or at the request of at least a third of its members.
3․ The meeting of the board is valid by the attendance of at least a majority of its members, including the chairman of the board or his delegate. Decisions must be issued by at least a majority of the votes of those in attendance. In the event of a tie, the side with which the chairman of the meeting votes prevails.
4․ The board may—when necessary, and at the discretion of its chairman—hold meetings and vote on recommendations and decisions remotely using technology. Recommendations and decisions may be made by circulation among the members, and they are signed to indicate that all members have reviewed them. Recommendations and decisions issued in this manner are not valid unless they are circulated and voted upon by all members of the board and obtain at least a majority of their votes. This decision must be presented to the board at the first subsequent meeting to be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
5․ The deliberations and decisions of the board must be recorded in minutes and must be signed by the chairman of the meeting and the members in attendance.
Meetings, deliberations, agenda, recommendations, decisions, and minutes of the board are strictly confidential.
6․ A member shall not abstain from voting or authorize another member to vote on his behalf during his absence. An objecting member may record his objection and the reasons for the objection in the minutes of the board meeting.
7․ The board may invite whomever it deems appropriate from government or private entities or specialists and consultants to attend the meetings, without them having the right to vote.
The board must have a secretary from among the members or others selected by the chairman of the board. He shall assume the secretariat of the board, prepare for the meetings, and record and communicate the minutes, deliberations, decisions, and recommendations.
Article 8
The authority must have a president who is appointed and dismissed from his position by a decision by the board, in which his remuneration and other financial benefits are determined. He is responsible for managing the affairs of the authority, and his responsibilities and powers must be within the limits stipulated in the system and decisions or delegations of the board, and in particular, he may exercise the following powers:
1․ Supervising the progress of work in the authority in accordance with the approved policies, strategies, plans, and programs.
2․ Proposing the policies and strategies of the authority and the plans and programs necessary for their implementation, and submitting them to the board for approval.
3․ Proposing the organizational structure of the authority and submitting it to the board for approval.
4․ Supervising the preparation of the financial and administrative regulations and other internal and technical regulations necessary for conducting the affairs of the authority, submitting them to the board for approval, and supervising their implementation after their approval.
5․ Supervising the preparation of the draft budget of the authority, its final account, and its annual report, and submitting them to the board in preparation for completing matters necessary in their regard.
6․ Disbursing from the budget of the authority and taking all financial procedures, in accordance with the laws and regulations and within the limits of the powers delegated to him by the board.
7․ Appointing the authority personnel in accordance with the regulations governing this, and supervising them.
8․ Contracting with experts, consultants, and think tanks within the limits of the objectives of the authority, and in accordance with the provisions specified in the regulations.
9․ Issuing the necessary decisions to implement the provisions contained in the system and the regulations issued based on it, in accordance with the powers entrusted to him.
10․ Contracting to perform works, services, and others, in accordance with the laws and regulations and within the limits of the powers delegated to him by the board.
11․ Preparing periodic reports on the work, achievements, and activities of the authority, and submitting them to the board in preparation for completing matters necessary in their regard.
12․ Approving the scholarships and training of the authority personnel, in accordance with the regulations governing this.
13․ Signing agreements, memorandums of understanding, and protocols after the approval of the board, or according to the powers it grants him, in accordance with the established legal procedures.
14․ Representing the authority before judicial and administrative entities and other entities inside and outside the Kingdom, and he may delegate others to do so.
15․ Any other task assigned to him by the board.
The president may delegate some of his mandates to the authority personnel he deems fit.
Article 9
1․ The resources of the authority consist of the following:
(a) Appropriations allocated to it in the general budget of the state.
(b) The fee it receives for the services and works it provides and the licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations, approvals, and accreditations it issues.
(c) Returns on its investments.
(d) Donations, gifts, grants, bequests, and awqaf revenue accepted by the board, in accordance with the provisions governing this.
(e) Any other resource approved by the board, provided that it does not violate the laws and instructions.
2․ All revenues of the authority must be deposited in the current account of the Ministry of Finance in the Saudi Central Bank.
3․ The authority shall open an account in the Saudi Central Bank, and it may open other accounts in any of the banks licensed to operate in the Kingdom. Disbursements from these accounts must be made in accordance with the budget of the authority and its financial and administrative regulations.
Article 10
1․ The authority must have an independent annual budget from its financial resources, and it must have a general reserve equivalent to twice the total of its expenses indicated in its previous budget. Both must be deposited in the account of the authority after its revenues are deposited in the current account of the Ministry of Finance in the Saudi Central Bank.
2․ The financial year of the authority is the financial year of the state.
Article 11
Authority personnel, except for the president, are subject to the provisions of the Labor Law and Social Insurance Law.
Article 12
Without prejudice to the mandate of the General Court of Audit, the board shall appoint one or more external account auditors licensed to work in the Kingdom to audit the accounts of the authority, its financial transactions, its annual budget, and its final account, and the board shall determine his fees. The report of the accounts auditor must be submitted to the board, and a copy of it must be provided to the General Court of Audit after it is approved by the board.
Article 13
The authority shall submit its annual final account to the Prime Minister—within 90 days from the end of the financial year—in preparation for its referral to the Council of Ministers in accordance with its law, and a copy must be provided to the General Court of Audit after it is approved by the board.
Article 14
The authority shall submit to the Prime Minister—within 90 days from the end of the financial year—an annual report on its achievements during the past year, the difficulties it has faced, and any proposals it deems necessary to improve the conduct of work.
Article 15
The system must be published in the official gazette, and comes into force on the date of its publication.
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5088 issued on 24 May 2025.
