Federal Law Issuing the Civil Aviation Act

Federal Law No. 20 of 1991 Issuing the Civil Aviation Act

Issued Date: 10 Jun 1991
Effective Date: 24 Jul 1991
Official Gazette Date: 24 Jun 1991
Official Gazette No: 226
Legislation State: Active
Legislation Amendments: 1
Last update on this law was listed on 28 Aug 2024

Preamble (preview):
We Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates,
- Taking cognisance of the Provisional Constitution constitution;
- Federal Law No. 1 of 1972 regarding the functions of the ministries and the powers of the minister... [preview truncated]
- Federal Law No. 18 of 1981 regulating commercial agencies, as amended;
- Federal Law No. 8 of 1984 regarding commercial companies, as amended;
- Federal Law No. 5 of 1985 issuing the Civil Transactions Code, as amended;
- Federal Law No. 3 of 1987 issuing the Penal Code;
- Federal Law No. 22 of 1972 regarding the UAE's participation in the Arab project to set up a unit... [preview truncated]
- Federal Decree No. 35 of 1972 approving the UAE's joining of the International Civil Aviation Orga... [preview truncated]
- Federal Decree No. 95 of 1980 ratifying the UAE's accession to the Convention for the Suppression... [preview truncated]
- Federal Decree No. 8 of 1981 ratifying the UAE's accession to the Convention for the Suppression o... [preview truncated]
- Federal Decree No. 9 of 1981 ratifying the UAE's accession to the Convention on Offences and Certa... [preview truncated]
- Federal Decree No. 13 of 1986 approving the UAE's joining of the Warsaw Convention for the Unifica... [preview truncated]
- Federal Decree No. 85 of 1986 approving the UAE's joining of the World Meteorological Organisation... [preview truncated]
- Federal Decree No. 79 of 1988 ratifying the UAE's accession to the Protocol for the Suppression of... [preview truncated]
- Based on the proposal of the Minister of Communications, approved by the Cabinet and the Federal N... [preview truncated]
Issue the following Law:

Enacting Articles (preview):
Article (1): The Civil Aviation Act attached to this Law shall come into force and all provisions contravening th... [preview truncated]
Article (2): The ministers and competent authorities in the UAE shall enforce this Law within their respective ju... [preview truncated]
Article (3): This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall take effect one month after publicatio... [preview truncated]

Part One: Definitions
Article (1): Definitions -- terms include: State; Territory of the State; State of Registry; Competent Authority; Concerned Authority; Chicago Convention; Aircraft; Operator; Operator State; Air Traffic; Air Traffic Control Unit; Aerodrome; International Airport; Manoeuvring Area; Pilot in Command; Flight Crew Member; Crewmember; Flight Time; Prohibited Area; Restricted Area; Danger Area; Air Service; Scheduled International Air Service; Air Carrier; International Air Transport Corporation; Acrobatic Flight; Aviation Accident; Aviation Incident; Aviation Licence; Aviation Permit; Certificate of Airworthiness.

Part Two: General Provisions
Article (2): The State has complete and absolute sovereignty over the airspace above its territory.
Article (3): The provisions of this Law shall apply to: a. Civil aviation in the Territory of the State. ... [preview truncated]
Article (4): The Ministry of Communications shall oversee all affairs and development of civil aviation in the St... [preview truncated]
Article (5): 1. Aircraft are moveable property in relation to the application of the laws, rules and regulations... [preview truncated]
Article (6): An Aircraft may only operate in the Territory of the State or its overlying airspace under a licence... [preview truncated]
Article (7): The following conditions must be met by Aircraft operating in the Territory of the State and its ove... [preview truncated]
Article (8): An Aircraft operating in the Territory of the State or its overlying airspace may only be fitted out... [preview truncated]
Article (9): It shall not be permitted to fly Aircraft equipped with aerial photographic equipment or use such eq... [preview truncated]
Article (10): 1. Lighting may be installed only after the Concerned Authority has given its approval after consult... [preview truncated]
Article (11): The Pilot in Command is responsible for the operation of the Aircraft and the safety of the Aircraft... [preview truncated]
Article (12): No person may interfere with any Flight Crew Member in the performance of the Crewmember's duties du... [preview truncated]
Article (13): The following articles shall not be carried on board Aircraft except with a prior permit from the Co... [preview truncated]
Article (14): 1. It shall not be permitted, without a permit, for any person to carry on board an Aircraft firearm... [preview truncated]
Article (15): 1. Aircraft shall use listed airports and shall comply with the applicable laws, rules and regulatio... [preview truncated]
Article (16): Passengers, Crewmembers and consignors, whether in person or through agents working in their name an... [preview truncated]
Article (17): The Concerned Authority may, if necessary, inspect Aircraft, prevent Aircraft flying or hold any doc... [preview truncated]
Article (18): Customs, security, health and plant quarantine authorities shall have the right to exercise the powe... [preview truncated]
Article (19): 1. The International Conventions, Protocols, and Agreements -- related to the Civil Aviation Sector --... [preview truncated]

Part Three: Rules of the Air
Article (20): 1. The Competent Authority shall lay down the rules of the air and regulations relating to the fligh... [preview truncated]
Article (21): The Competent Authority may, without discrimination as to nationality, ban or restrict Aircraft from... [preview truncated]
Article (22): 1. A Pilot in Command who finds himself over a Prohibited Area shall immediately notify the relevant... [preview truncated]
Article (23): The Pilot in Command shall:- 1. Ensure that the Aircraft has been supplied with the quantity of fuel... [preview truncated]
Article (24): 1. An Aircraft shall not be flown at elevations lower than those specified by the Competent Authorit... [preview truncated]

Part Four: Authorisation & Licence
Article (25): A Flight Crew Member of an Aircraft in the Territory of the State and its overlying airspace must ho... [preview truncated]
Article (26): 1. The Competent Authority shall issue aviation authorisation and other technical authorisation and... [preview truncated]
Article (27): An institute, club or other party shall not engage in flight, provide flight training, or carry on a... [preview truncated]

Part Five: Requirements for Registration, Validity and Documents
Article (28): 1. The Competent Authority shall specify the marks of nationality of the State and the method of pla... [preview truncated]
Article (29): An Aircraft shall be struck off the registry in the following cases: 1. If its owner or lessee no lo... [preview truncated]
Article (30): 1. An Aircraft shall not operate in the Territory of the State and its overlying airspace unless it... [preview truncated]
Article (31): 1. Aircraft shall not be operated if not equipped with the systems and equipment necessary for fligh... [preview truncated]
Article (32): 1. The Operator of an Aircraft registered in the State shall not operate it in commercial air transp... [preview truncated]
Article (33): 1. The position of equipment provided for emergency use shall be indicated by clear markings in each... [preview truncated]
Article (34): 1. Every Aircraft for which the Competent Authority issues or attests a Certificate of Airworthiness... [preview truncated]
Article (35): The Competent Authority shall perform or request the performance of inspection, tests or trial fligh... [preview truncated]
Article (36): No Aircraft registered in the State may commence any flight without the following documents and log... [preview truncated]
Article (37): 1. The Operator and the Pilot in Command shall, upon request, provide the Competent Authority with a... [preview truncated]
Article (38): A person shall not:- 1. Use any certificate, authorisation, approval, permission or other document i... [preview truncated]

Part Six: Commercial Air Transport
Article (39): 1. No Operator of Aircraft may permit the Aircraft to fly for the purpose of commercial air transpor... [preview truncated]
Article (40): 1. The Operator shall make available for the use and guidance of pilots and operating staff an opera... [preview truncated]
Article (41): 1. The Competent Authority may decide that all or certain flights carry in addition to the flight cr... [preview truncated]
Article (42): The Competent Authority shall, after consulting the Concerned Authority, adopt regulations and direc... [preview truncated]
Article (43): The Operator shall not permit the Aircraft to be loaded except under the supervision of a trained pe... [preview truncated]
Article (44): The Operator or his representative is responsible for monitoring the flight operations of his Aircra... [preview truncated]
Article (45): 1. No person may use an Aircraft's navigation systems during flight unless he is a qualified pilot w... [preview truncated]
Article (46): Authorised representatives of the Competent Authority and the Concerned Authority may enter, at any... [preview truncated]
Article (47): The provisions of the Warsaw Convention Relating to Carriage by Air signed on 12 October 1929 and ot... [preview truncated]

Part Seven: Aircraft Accidents
Article (48): 1. The Competent Authority shall itself or through an independent party designated thereby, investiga... [preview truncated]
Article (49): 1. Committees which the Competent Authority sets up in conjunction with the Concerned Authority to i... [preview truncated]
Article (50): A representative of the State of Registry and state of manufacture of the Aircraft may be allowed to... [preview truncated]
Article (51): The investigation committee shall submit its report on the accident, its causes and surrounding circ... [preview truncated]
Article (52): The Competent Authority may reinvestigate Aircraft accidents pursuant to a reasoned decision if new... [preview truncated]
Article (53): If the investigation committee finds that the accident is a crime or suspects that there is a crime... [preview truncated]
Article (54): If an Aviation Accident occurs in the Territory of the State or its overlying airspace involving a c... [preview truncated]

Part Eight: Offences Against Aircraft
Article (55): Any person commits an offence against Aircraft if he intentionally and unlawfully commits, attempts... [preview truncated]
Article (56): 1. An Aircraft is considered to be in flight at any time from the moment when all its external doors... [preview truncated]
Article (57): The State shall take such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offenc... [preview truncated]

Part Nine: Search and Rescue
Article (58): Search and rescue means any assistance provided, even if only by notification, to Aircraft in distre... [preview truncated]
Article (59): No person shall refrain from providing assistance to search and rescue operations within his abiliti... [preview truncated]
Article (60): 1. The Competent Authority shall, in conjunction with the concerned authorities, determine the searc... [preview truncated]
Article (61): The concerned entities shall allow persons and Aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations to e... [preview truncated]
Article (62): The Operator of a salvaged Aircraft shall reimburse all costs incurred for the purpose of assistance... [preview truncated]
Article (63): The Court having jurisdiction over the place of occurrence of the accident shall be competent to ent... [preview truncated]
Article (64): Suits concerning search and rescue operations shall be time barred after 2 years from the date of co... [preview truncated]

Part Ten: Fees for Air Navigation Services
Article (65): The Cabinet shall by decision based on the proposal of the Minister of Communications specify the fe... [preview truncated]
Article (66): The following Aircraft are exempted from fees for the use of air navigation facilities: a. Airc... [preview truncated]
Article (67): Employees of the Competent Authority appointed by decision of the Minister of Communications, after... [preview truncated]
Article (68): In the event of any breach of this Law or its implementing rules, regulations and decisions, the Com... [preview truncated]
Article (69): The penalty of jail for a period of up to 1 year and a fine of up to AED 50,000 or either shall be i... [preview truncated]
Article (70): The penalty of jail for a period of up to 3 years and a fine of up to AED 100,000 or either shall be... [preview truncated]

Part Eleven: Penalties and Offences
Article (71): The penalty of jail for a period of up to 5 years shall be imposed on: 1. A person who steals equipm... [preview truncated]
Article (72): The penalty of life imprisonment or a jail term shall be imposed on any person who intentionally com... [preview truncated]
Article (73): The provisions of this Law shall apply without prejudice to the application of any severer penalty p... [preview truncated]
Article (74): The courts of the State shall have jurisdiction to deal with all offences committed in violation of... [preview truncated]
Article (75): An Aircraft may be ordered confiscated in the following circumstances: 1. If it carries incorrect ma... [preview truncated]