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The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) concluded this evening in Riyadh the activities of the “AVITHON Hackathon 2025,” organized in cooperation with Elm Company and the Saudi Digital Program, with the attendance of senior officials, experts, and innovators.

In a speech delivered during the closing ceremony, His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of GACA, stated that the “AVITHON Hackathon” represents a leading national platform that reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to transforming innovation into reality, contributing to the development of the aviation sector and the achievement of Vision 2030 objectives.

He said: “The Aviation Program, stemming from the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, has charted an ambitious vision for the future of this sector. It is centered on making the Kingdom a global hub for air connectivity, increasing annual passenger capacity to 330 million, and boosting air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tonnes by 2030, alongside developing infrastructure and enhancing sustainability in all aspects of operations.”

He added: “To achieve these targets, we at GACA believe that innovation and modern technologies are the main drivers for improving operational efficiency, delivering exceptional user experiences, and strengthening the sector’s competitiveness on the global stage.”

His Excellency praised the creative ideas and innovative solutions presented by the participants, noting that they were not merely technical projects but inspiring stories proving that determination and hard work can shape a more advanced and efficient future. He extended his appreciation to all partners, supporting entities, organizing committees, and everyone who contributed to the success of this challenge.

The ceremony also featured a visual presentation chronicling the journey of the hackathon since its launch, followed by the presentation of the five most innovative ideas to the judging panel and the audience.

At the conclusion of the event, His Excellency the GACA President crowned the winning teams after months of competition that brought together creative young talents from across the Kingdom. The ceremony also included honoring the organizing team and supporting partners.

It is noteworthy that the “AVITHON Hackathon 2025” registered 1,720 participants representing 491 teams, who presented ideas and solutions across three main tracks: enhancing the customer experience in the aviation sector, sustainability in aviation, and aviation safety and security. A total of 241 participants, representing the top 50 teams, advanced to the semi-finals, while 60 participants, representing the top 15 teams, were awarded in the final judging stage.

The event also featured more than 100 mentoring sessions for 50 teams, 300 written consultations for participants, and 80 workshops attended by 190 participants, with a total duration of 572 minutes. In addition, 357 questions were raised during the workshops, with a satisfaction rate of 98 percent.

The challenge went through three successive judging stages conducted by three independent committees, under the supervision and follow-up of a higher committee from GACA to ensure the highest standards of integrity and transparency.