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The General Authority of Civil Aviation participated in the Global Aviation Issues Conference, hosted by the International Association of Airport Executives (IAAE), in partnership with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), during the period from 11-12 November, at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) will take part in the seventh edition of the Bahrain International Airshow, which will be held from November 13 to 15 at Sakhir Airbase, to showcase the achievements of the Saudi aviation sector, highlight significant investment opportunities available, reinforce the Kingdom's leadership in the global aviation arena, and explore avenues for collaboration to develop a more prosperous aviation sector. GACA Spokesperson Ibtisam Al-Shehri said that at the airshow, the authority will present its initiatives to develop regulations that promote growth and innovation in the Kingdom's aviation sector, and highlight the achievements of the National Aviation Strategy, which aims to secure $100 billion in investments, boost passenger traffic to 330 million and link the Kingdom to 250 international destinations by 2030. She added that GACA will also introduce the Civil Aviation Environmental Sustainability Program, and emphasize its expertise in enhancing passenger experience and streamlining operational procedures, all in accordance with the latest international standards. The Bahrain International Airshow will feature 11 sponsoring companies, 223 civil and military delegations from 56 countries, and more than 135 local, regional, and global companies.

His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, met today with the Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Kingdom, Dr. Sohail Ijaz Khan, at the Authority's headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting covered of mutual interest, focusing on enhancing cooperation in air transport between the Kingdom and the Republic of India.

The General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) yesterday during the “Beban 24” forum. Organized by “Monsha'at” under the slogan “A Global Destination for Opportunities,” the event took place from November 5 to 9 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center. The MoU was signed on behalf of Monsha’at by the Deputy Governor for the Entrepreneurship Sector, Saud bin Khalid Al-Sabhan, and on behalf of GACA, by the Deputy CEO for the Aviation Security Sector, Mohammed bin Saad Al-Fawzan. This agreement aims to foster cooperation between the two organizations to support enterprises within the civil aviation sector by organizing challenges and hackathons and encouraging innovation in the sector. Beban 24 serves as a crucial platform for advancing the rapid development of Saudi Arabia’s small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurship sectors. It helps to create a supportive environment in collaboration with enabling and supporting partners across the public and private sectors.

His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, chaired the inaugural meeting of the Committee for Activating the Environmental Sustainability Program for Saudi Civil Aviation. The meeting was attended by committee members, representatives of the Ministry of Energy, and stakeholders in the aviation sector, including national carriers, airport operators, and service providers, at GACA’s main headquarters in Riyadh. This meeting marks a step towards fostering integration between government entities and aviation companies to address environmental sustainability challenges, contributing to the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and the National Aviation Strategy. These initiatives aim to bolster the Kingdom's leadership in environmental protection, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030. The program aims to create a platform that facilitates oversight and coordination among aviation sector stakeholders, providing essential support for effective program implementation. It further seeks to strengthen follow-up practices and monitor progress to ensure continuous improvement in performance indicators and program targets, in line with the national strategy for the civil aviation sector and the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Saudi Civil Aviation Environmental Sustainability Program (CAESP) is distinguished by a regulatory framework that promotes robust governance, comprehensiveness, and integration. It encompasses seven environmental pillars: greenhouse gas emissions, noise, biodiversity, waste management, energy and water efficiency, and climate change response. The program includes a series of initiatives, sub-programs, targets, and performance indicators developed and approved by the aviation sector. These elements are designed to ensure national targets are met and international obligations are fulfilled within a specific time frame, leveraging various enablers from both the government and private sectors.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), represented by its Beneficiary Care Center, has received two prestigious international awards at the annual Contact Center World conference in London, UK. GACA took home the "Gold" award for Best Customer Service and the "Silver" for Best Government Contact Center, competing alongside numerous government agencies and companies from around the globe. Director of the Communication Channels Department at GACA, Meshail Al-Mofawez, highlighted that these achievements underscore GACA's commitment to delivering high-quality services and enhancing beneficiary experiences. The awards reflect the authority's dedication to continuously improving service standards and achieving the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Al-Mofawez noted that GACA's success in earning these awards is due to its commitment to international best practices and quality standards, ensuring that services are provided to beneficiaries with efficiency and excellence.

The Deputy CEO of Air Transport and International Cooperation at the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Ali bin Mohammed Rajab, signed an agreement today regarding air transport services between the governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Kosovo. The Republic of Kosovo was represented by His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure, Mr. Libern Aliu. Also present were His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah; the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania, non-resident in the Republic of Kosovo, Faisal bin Ghazi Hafizi; and the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the Kingdom, Mr. Lulzim Mijko. The signing took place during an official visit by a delegation led by His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, to the Republic of Kosovo. The agreement aims to enhance cooperation in the field of air transport services and to establish regulatory frameworks for safe and organized between the two countries. The agreement aligns with the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector strategy, which focuses on building international partnerships, signing new bilateral agreements, and expanding the operational network of national carriers. It further aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics center in line Vision 2030, strengthening the Kingdom’s air connectivity to reach 250 global destinations, tripling the number of passengers to 330 million, and increasing air cargo capacity to reach 4.5 million tons annually by 2030.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a report on the statistics of the Beneficiary Care Center from the beginning of the year to the third quarter of 2024. The report revealed that the center handled 220,537 interactions through communication channels, including 113,224 calls received via the unified number, 19,337 messages via e-mail, 13,127 direct conversations via the X platform, 48,765 interactions via the website, 25,707 automated and direct conversations via WhatsApp, in addition to 377 interactions conducted in sign language. The Beneficiary Care Center operates according to the highest quality standards. The average response speed to the customer is 5 seconds, with an average call duration of 3 minutes and 35 seconds. The percentage of lost calls stands at just 1% of total interactions, as all requests received by the center are followed up. A team of ambitious professionals from the nation work within the Beneficiary Care Center. The center serves the deaf through video calls, and all services are provided in sign language, ensuring direct interaction with service representatives. These interactions occur within a secure channel that maintains their privacy, addresses their needs, and includes their feedback through a customer satisfaction survey at the end of each interaction. The General Authority of Civil Aviation aims to enhance communication with travelers through various channels, ensuring their satisfaction with 24/7 availability. The Beneficiary Care Center is committed to strengthening the Authority's supervisory role by utilizing advanced technologies to monitor all operational processes and interactions continuously. It also analyzes data and beneficiary feedback to track performance standards across all channels. Notably, last September, the Authority's Beneficiary Care Center was awarded the Saudi Quality Certificate "Hayak" issued by the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization. This recognition highlights the center’s excellence in applying the highest quality standards in line with quality management systems for serving beneficiaries in various facilities.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has authorized German airline Eurowings to operate regular passenger flights between Saudi Arabia and Germany. Flights from Cologne to Jeddah will begin on November 5 and from Berlin to Jeddah on November 6, operating three times weekly throughout the winter season. This initiative by GACA aims to strengthen Saudi Arabia's global air connectivity in line with Vision 2030's goal of establishing Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub and expanding travel options. This agreement also aligns with the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) held its 14th Steering Committee Meeting for Activating the National Strategy for the Aviation Sector today in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, with the attendance of His Excellency Ahmed Al-Hassan, the Assistant Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, and Eng. Omar Al-Abdullatif, the CEO of the Eastern Region Development Authority. Also in attendance were Vice Presidents, CEOs, officials, and managers representing companies and national carriers operating in the civil aviation sector in Saudi Arabia, with the meeting organized by Dammam Airports Company. In his address, His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation announced that the civil aviation sector achieved unprecedented record numbers this year. The number of passengers increased by 15% to reach 94 million between January and September 2024, with flights seeing a 10% rise compared to 2023. This growth was particularly notable at the Kingdom’s airports, including Dammam Airport, which recorded a 16% increase in passenger numbers by September. The volume of air connectivity has expanded as well, with flights now departing to over 150 destinations weekly. He further emphasized the significant role of shipping and logistics in the Kingdom’s economic growth, highlighting that air freight has grown by 52% this year, with a total volume approaching one million tons. He stressed that this growth positively impacts various sectors across the Kingdom. His Excellency underscored the importance of redoubling efforts to enhance overall sector performance and maximize the role of civil aviation, thereby increasing the sector’s competitiveness to meet the aspirations of the wise leadership in developing the industry to better serve citizens and travelers. He also commended all employees of the civil aviation sector for their dedicated efforts in overcoming challenges. The meeting then discussed key developments in activating the National Strategy for the Aviation Sector, the progress made on various initiatives, and updates on the recommendations of the 13th Steering Committee meeting. It also reviewed the latest achievements and pioneering projects for the sector in 2024, as well as developments in the strategies of airlines operating at the Kingdom’s airports. The discussion focused on their priorities, goals, and alignment with the National Strategy to contribute to the Kingdom’s social and economic development and achieve the ambitious goals outlined in Vision 2030. The event also included a signing ceremony of several contracts between Dammam Airports Company and a number of specialized private sector companies, in the presence of His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation. These projects, valued at over 300 million riyals, are aimed at enhancing infrastructure, improving the passenger experience, and boosting electricity reliability at the airport. They also focus on asset development, digital technology and cybersecurity. It is worth noting that the National Strategy for the Aviation Sector, derived from the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics, aims to double the sector’s capacity to more than 300 million passengers annually from over 250 global destinations. It also seeks to increase cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons of goods by 2030.

Saudi Arabia/United States—A select delegation from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) recently concluded a formal visit to the highly-acclaimed NBAA Business Aviation Convention Exhibition (BACE), held in Las Vegas, USA, from October 22-24.The visit by the Saudi delegation was aimed at keeping abreast with the latest market developments and offerings in the general aviation sector, in addition to boosting cooperation and strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders. The representative team further displayed its ongoing efforts in enhancing and raising the quality of general aviation within the Kingdom. During their visit, the Saudi delegation conducted meetings with senior executives of numerous manufacturing aircraft companies and other affiliates operating them on a global level. The discussions underlined modern technologies, innovations and solutions within the general aviation industry which also encompassed major global companies that manufacture, operate, and/or maintain business-run or private chartered aircraft. Several other key topics relative to aviation were also addressed which include leveraging cooperation associated with finding new and diverse means of effective transportation, and the importance of keeping pace and allocating suitable infrastructure in line with the continuous growth of modern aviation technologies. Earlier this year, the Kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation launched the “General Aviation Roadmap” during the Future Aviation Forum 2024, where it showcased the latest market offerings across the business aircraft, private chartered aircraft and aviation sectors, in addition to highlighting stakeholder relations and support for aircraft owners, investors, operators and service providers. Furthermore, the roadmap displayed the establishment of six new airports dedicated to the general aviation in Saudi Arabia, which are set to cement the country’s position as a world-class business and tourism destination, which comes in line with the wider objectives of the Saudi Aviation Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030. The NBAA BACE (Business Aviation Convention Exhibition) is one of the largest general aviation events worldwide where over 500 leading and key aviation companies partake in. The high-profile exhibition is typically held in Las Vegas, United States, on an annual basis and enables aviation stakeholders to network, exhibit, and exchange thoughts about the latest happenings within the aviation sector.

His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, met today with the Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to the Kingdom, Mr. Mohamed Ramadan Ruang, at the Authority's headquarters in Riyadh. During the meeting, they reviewed topics of common interest and discussed ways to enhance areas of cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), today concluded its participation in the International Civil Aviation Negotiation Event (ICAN 2024). Organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) from October 21-25 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the event included representatives from over 80 countries and several international organizations. GACA President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej led the Kingdom's delegation. During ICAN 2024, GACA signed 15 agreements and memoranda of understanding with various countries in the field of air services to enhance bilateral cooperation in air transport and expand the network of connections. More than 30 bilateral meetings were held throughout the event. Among the signed agreements were eight memoranda of understanding and minutes of discussions aimed at improving cooperation between the Kingdom and several participating countries in air transport. These included agreements with Uzbekistan, Suriname, Belarus, Cuba, Türkiye, Liberia, and Brunei Darussalam. A memorandum of understanding was also signed with Mongolia, addressing a draft bilateral agreement on air services. ICAN 2024 featured numerous bilateral meetings where the president of GACA engaged with leaders of civil aviation authorities from around the world. He met with heads and officials of delegations from Seychelles, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Liberia. The discussions covered various topics related to the event and opportunities to strengthen economic ties and collaboration in air transport. The agenda also included a memorandum of discussion with the United States signed by GACA Executive Vice President for Air Transport and International Cooperation Ali bin Mohammed Rajab. Also signed were a draft protocol to amend the Air Services Agreement, a memorandum of understanding in air transport with South Africa, and a memorandum of discussion with Latvia. Furthermore, an Air Services Agreement was signed with Guinea, alongside additional meetings with delegations from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Russia, India, Ethiopia, and Austria, focusing on ways to enhance cooperation in civil aviation The GACA delegation held separate bilateral meetings with Jamaica, Kuwait, and India, resulting in signed minutes of consultations to boost cooperation in air transport. A meeting with representatives from the Republic of Korea was also conducted to discuss various topics and collaboration opportunities in civil aviation. These agreements and memoranda of understanding are designed to support the strategic objectives of the civil aviation sector by building international partnerships that aim to enhance the Kingdom's air connectivity with the world to 250 destinations, transform it into a global logistics platform, and facilitate the transportation of 330 million passengers annually by 2030.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej announced on Monday that Saudi Arabia is solidifying its position as a global leader in search and rescue operations. "Saudi Arabia has proposed the designation of September 10 as "International Search and Rescue Day," he said while revealing a $200,000 donation from the Kingdom to support the initiative. Al-Duailej made these remarks while inaugurating the 71st meeting of the International Satellite Search and Rescue Program (COSPAS-SARSAT), hosted by the Kingdom from October 15 to 24. The event was held for the first time outside the founding countries of the program — US, France, Russia, and Canada. The meeting includes participants from 45 countries and organizations and is chaired by Henrik Smith, the current chairman of the COSPAS-SARSAT Program Council. In his speech, Al-Duailej highlighted Saudi Arabia's pivotal role in global search and rescue efforts since joining the program in 2000. The Kingdom has developed advanced search and rescue capabilities, including the establishment of the Saudi Center for Search and Rescue Missions in Jeddah. The center now serves as a key regional hub, supporting search and rescue operations for seven neighboring countries: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, and Yemen. Al-Duailej underscored Saudi Arabia's commitment to the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System and the Autonomous Distress Tracking technology, ensuring full regulatory compliance by aircraft operators and rescue coordination centers. The Kingdom is also adapting to technological advancements, such as drones, to enhance aviation safety and efficiency. The GACA president also announced that Saudi Arabia will host the Central and Southern Regions Meeting in Jeddah from February 24 to 27, 2025, which will offer specialized training workshops to strengthen the capabilities of search and rescue personnel in the region. He called for increased cooperation among all participants to create a safer and more secure future in civil aviation globally. "The Kingdom's active role in search and rescue, particularly through its satellite-based efforts, further establishes it as a significant player on the international stage," he added.

Executive Vice President for Air Transport and International Cooperation at the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Ali bin Mohammed Rajab has highlighted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's initiatives and vision to establish itself as a central hub for international flights. Rajab made his remarks during a panel discussion titled "Benefits and Challenges of Liberalizing International Air Transport," which was part of the International Civil Aviation Negotiation Event (ICAN 2024) held in Malaysia between October 21 and 25. Rajab noted that the Kingdom has achieved unprecedented milestones, with 87% of the initiatives under the Saudi Vision 2030 realized. These initiatives aim to position the Kingdom as a key international flight hub, with the value of investment opportunities in the aviation sector reaching up to $100 billion. They leverage private sector resources and expertise in alignment with the National Aviation Strategy. He added that the sector saw an unprecedented 26% increase in passenger numbers in 2023, reaching 122 million, driven by the implementation of new economic regulations that enhance competition, ensure transparency, and attract investment. The GACA official also pointed out that the National Aviation Strategy aims to boost air cargo capacity from the current 0.8 million tons to 4.5 million tons by 2030. ICAN 2023, held in Riyadh from December 3 to 7, 2023, witnessed the signing of 521 agreements, memoranda of understanding, and records of discussions, along with 579 bilateral meetings and negotiations on air transport services. Over 100 countries, international organizations, and over 700 civil aviation experts and specialists attended the event. ICAN 2024 serves as a unique platform for global aviation leaders to conduct bilateral, regional, or multilateral negotiations on air transport services, where it attracted over 700 delegates and leaders from the global civil aviation sector on its opening day.