Saudi Arabia has formally acceded to the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Relating to International Civil Aviation (Beijing Convention, 2010) to enhance the safety and security of global civil aviation.
The convention, developed under the framework of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), aims to address emerging threats to international air transport by criminalizing unlawful acts targeting civil aviation and strengthening global legal deterrence mechanisms.
Saudi Arabia’s accession reflects its continued efforts to align national regulations with international aviation standards while playing an active role in multilateral cooperation.
The move comes amid increasing global concern over threats to aviation safety, which not only endanger lives and property but also undermine confidence in the reliability and efficiency of air transport systems.
Understanding the Beijing Convention
The Beijing Convention establishes comprehensive legal principles to prevent and suppress such unlawful acts.
It also modernizes and consolidates earlier international agreements, including the Montreal Convention of 1971 and its 1988 supplementary protocol, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the global legal architecture governing aviation security.
The instrument of accession was formally deposited during a ceremony held at ICAO headquarters. Mohammed Habib, Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the ICAO Council, presented the documentation to ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar.
The event was attended by members of the Kingdom’s permanent delegation, along with Michael Gill, Director of Legal Affairs and External Relations at ICAO.
With this development, Saudi Arabia becomes the 57th state party to the Beijing Convention. The agreement is set to enter into force for the Kingdom on 1 June 2026.
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