News

Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Chairman Saleh Al-Jasser affirmed Saudi Arabia's leading role in the global aviation sector. Speaking at the opening of the 42nd General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada, he announced a $1 million donation from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to support the ICAO's "No Country Left Behind" program for the 2025-2028 cycle, which helps developing countries implement civil aviation safety and security standards.  Al-Jasser stated that the Kingdom is an influential force in regional and international aviation, ranking among the top countries in aviation safety and security. He noted that Saudi Arabia has strong cooperative relations with ICAO and has actively contributed to developing global policies and practices.  The minister highlighted the Kingdom's aviation program, part of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to transport over 330 million passengers annually by 2030, connect the Kingdom to 250 international destinations, attract investments exceeding $100 billion, develop key infrastructure like King Salman International Airport with a capacity of 120 million passengers, and train over 50,000 professionals in the sector by 2030.  Al-Jasser noted that the aviation sector contributes over $53 billion to the GDP and provides one million job opportunities. He also mentioned that Saudi Arabia has hosted numerous international conferences, including the ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN2023) and the ICAO Facilitation 2024 Global Summit.  The Kingdom is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 by investing in low-carbon infrastructure, modernizing its fleet, and adopting sustainable aviation fuels, said Al-Jasser. He highlighted the Red Sea International Airport as a global model of sustainability, as it operates entirely on renewable energy. The use of an autonomous air taxi for Hajj 2024 was also mentioned as an example of the Kingdom's commitment to innovation.  In terms of regional integration, Al-Jasser said Saudi Arabia is proud to chair the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) and host the official headquarters of the Cooperative Aviation Security Program – Middle East (CASP-MID).  He invited all member states to attend the fourth edition of the Future of Aviation Conference, which will be held in Riyadh from April 20 to 22, 2026.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej signed a memorandum of understanding for technical cooperation with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) on Monday at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 42nd General Assembly in Montreal, Canada, aiming to enhance cooperation in the operation and development of aviation infrastructure and facilitate expertise exchange between the two parties. During the event, attended by a high-level delegation headed by Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser, the Kingdom announced its intention to seek re-election to the ICAO Council in Category II for the 2025-2028 term, reaffirming its role as an active member and key partner in shaping international civil aviation policies.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) released today its monthly report on the performance of the Kingdom's international and domestic airports for August 2025. The report, prepared in line with the authority's strategic direction to enhance service quality and improve the passenger experience, measures performance across 11 key criteria.  According to the report, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Abha International Airport, Qaisumah International Airport, and King Saud bin Abdulaziz Airport in Al-Baha achieved the highest rankings across their respective categories.  In the category of international airports handling more than 15 million passengers annually, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh ranked first with a compliance rate of 82%, followed by King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with 73%. Among airports serving between five million and 15 million passengers annually, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam ranked first with 91%, surpassing Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.  Abha International Airport topped the category of airports serving between two and five million passengers annually, achieving full compliance at 100%. The airport outperformed peers particularly in average wait times for both departing and arriving passengers. In the category of international airports handling fewer than two million passengers annually, Qaisumah International Airport came first with 100% compliance, also excelling in average wait times.  At the domestic level, King Saud bin Abdulaziz Airport in Al-Baha ranked first with 100% compliance, outperforming all competing airports in wait-time efficiency.  GACA emphasized that its evaluation criteria include passenger wait times at check-in, baggage claim, passport control, and customs, in addition to services provided for people with disabilities, along with several other indicators aligned with international best practices.  

Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the United States of America, today received in Washington His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, during his official visit to the United States. The meeting comes within the framework of enhancing cooperation in private sector investment between the two countries. The discussions reviewed the latest developments in the transformation of the air transport sector, explored avenues to strengthen collaboration in advanced air mobility, research, and innovation, and highlighted opportunities to encourage leading American companies and investors to invest in the Kingdom’s aviation sector, in support of the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) will participate in the 42nd General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), scheduled to take place from September 23 to October 3 in Montreal, Canada.  GACA will be represented by a high-level delegation headed by Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of GACA’s Board of Directors Saleh Al-Jasser, together with GACA President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej.  The participation aims to advance the global air transport industry through the launch of initiatives and the signing of partnership agreements.  It also seeks to develop the travel market between the Kingdom and countries worldwide by presenting working papers and information, as well as holding bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event, which is held every three years.

Ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States were further stregthened in the aviation sector during a visit to the US by a delegation from the Saudi civil aviation sector, led by His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). The delegation visited the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the headquarters of Boeing in Washington DC,  as well as the Dreamliner facility in Charleston, South Carolina, one of the company’s largest and most advanced worldwide hubs.  Collaboration opportunities in civil aviation, aircraft manufacturing and maintenance services, sustainability, and advanced technologies initiatives were among the many topics discussed across the two-day visit. The visit aimed to enhance cooperation with the United States in knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and localization of the aviation industry, in line with the Kingdom’s goal of becoming a global industrial and logistics hub in aviation as part of its economic diversification, as set out in Vision 2030. “By engaging with global aviation regulators and manufacturers, GACA is supporting Vision 2030 objectives to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s role as a hub connecting three continents, delivering greater connectivity and travel experiences for the Kingdom’s passengers. With new Saudi airlines being launched, record aircraft orders, and a focus on innovation and sustainability, the visit highlights the unprecedented opportunities being created by the Kingdom and underscores the strong Saudi–U.S. aviation partnership,” said GACA President, His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej. During the delegation’s tour of Boeing’s Dreamliner facility in Charleston, GACA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boeing in the field of sustainability and advanced air mobility. The agreement was signed by Captain Sulaiman Al-Muhaimidi, GACA’s Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability, and Mr. Asaad Al-Jomoai, President of Boeing Saudi Arabia. “This partnership with Boeing reflects GACA’s commitment to creating safer, smarter skies through advanced air mobility innovation. The effort further cements Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the future of aviation,” said GACA’s Executive Vice President.