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The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) participated in a panel discussion titled “Inclusive Tourism for Persons with Disabilities in the Kingdom”, held as part of the High-Level Conference on “Accessible Tourism for Persons with Disabilities.” The event is organized by the Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with the League of Arab States, from 12–13 November 2025 in Riyadh, with the participation of leading experts and decision-makers in tourism, transport, and inclusive services. During the session, GACA’s Executive Vice President for Quality and Customer Experience, Eng. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Dahmash, explained that the Authority has adopted an integrated regulatory framework based on the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its executive regulations. This framework aims to enhance the travel experience of passengers with disabilities by providing inclusive services and facilities that support their independence and dignity, while obligating all air service providers to comply with relevant regulations and circulars. He noted that GACA has aligned this regulatory framework with the Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities to ensure unified standards and full coordination among all concerned entities—contributing to a more inclusive, accessible, and seamless travel experience for all segments of society. Eng. Al-Dahmash added that GACA operates under a system of regulations and national programs dedicated to strengthening the rights of persons with disabilities in air transport. These include the Passenger Rights Protection Regulation, the National Program for Air Transport Facilitation, the National Aviation Security Program, and the executive regulations governing aviation safety. He also highlighted that GACA applies a comprehensive airport service quality assessment program, which includes specific criteria for measuring and improving the experience of travelers with disabilities. Under this program, the best-performing airport in serving this group is honored each year, encouraging healthy competition and elevating overall service quality. He further explained that GACA provides travelers with six diverse, round-the-clock communication channels for submitting complaints and inquiries, including the visual sign-language call service launched to support the needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing—enhancing communication accessibility and promoting an inclusive travel environment. The Executive Vice President for Quality and Customer Experience affirmed that GACA continues, through its regulatory and supervisory role, to monitor the commitment of airports across the Kingdom to the standards of universal accessibility. These efforts are guided by the simplified manual issued by the Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities, which outlines precise technical specifications to ensure that airport facilities are fully prepared to accommodate all passengers and provide a safe, accessible travel experience that meets diverse needs.

In the presence of Deputy Governor of Makkah Region and Deputy Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Hajj and Umrah Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) yesterday honored the winning airlines of the “Multazim” Award for their excellence during the 1446 AH Hajj season, as part of its participation in the Hajj Conference and Exhibition 2025 in Jeddah. GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej presented the awards to the national carriers Saudia, flynas, and flyadeal, as well as to several international airlines, including Malaysia Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, and Air China. GACA had earlier launched two initiatives, “Distinguished Path” and the “Multazim” Award, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency among airlines, encouraging them to elevate their service standards for the upcoming Hajj season, and motivating Hajj offices to make early preparations for pilgrims’ air transport. The authority affirmed that these initiatives reflect its commitment to developing the air transport ecosystem in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and to reinforcing the Kingdom’s leading role in serving pilgrims from across the world.

His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), chaired today in Jeddah the 18th meeting of the Steering Committee to activate the Aviation Programme. The meeting was attended by His Excellency Ahmed S. Al-Hassan, Assistant Minister of Transport & Logistic Services, along with GACA vice-presidents, CEOs, executive officials and directors representing national carriers and aviation companies operating in the Kingdom. The event was organized by Saudia Cargo. During his remarks, President Al-Duailej congratulated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on its re-election to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for the 2026-2028 term. He emphasised that this milestone reflects the unwavering support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. He noted that the re-election underscores the international community’s trust in the Kingdom’s leadership, its strong safety record, regulatory modernisation, and its growing influence in shaping the global aviation landscape — particularly in areas of sustainability, innovation and connectivity. He affirmed that the world views the Kingdom as a trusted partner in building the future of international civil aviation. His Excellency highlighted that the Aviation Programme contributes to advancing the air-transport industry locally, regionally and globally, fostering an attractive investment environment, and shaping the Kingdom’s aviation future to position it as the leading aviation hub in the Middle East — thus contributing significantly to the national GDP. He noted that the third quarter of 2025 witnessed significant growth, with the total number of passengers reaching 103 million, marking a 9 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The number of flights also rose by over 5 percent, surpassing 713,000 flights. His Excellency reaffirmed GACA’s ongoing commitment to progress and achievement, pointing out that the Kingdom will host several major international aviation events that reaffirm its global leadership in the field. Among these are the Future Aviation Forum 2026, scheduled for April in Riyadh, which will serve as a key platform to showcase Saudi Arabia’s progress and invite global leaders, airlines and investors to collaborate on shaping the next phase of aviation transformation. Additionally, Riyadh will host Routes World 2026, which will bring together global route planners and airlines to expand connectivity and strengthen the Kingdom’s network reach. He also emphasised the importance of intensifying efforts to enhance the sector’s overall performance and strengthen civil aviation’s role in boosting competitiveness and achieving the leadership’s vision of maximising the sector’s potential for citizens and travellers alike. His Excellency praised the dedication and joint efforts of all professionals across the civil-aviation ecosystem. For his part, Eng. Loay Mashabi, CEO and Managing Director of Saudia Cargo, stated that hosting this important meeting reflects Saudia Cargo’s strong commitment and contribution to developing the air-transport and logistics sector in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position the Kingdom as a leading global logistics hub. He also reviewed the company’s key milestones over the past period, including expansion of its international network, development of its digital infrastructure, and enhancement of fleet efficiency to strengthen global supply-chains. He highlighted the company’s ambitious future plans focused on sustainability, innovation and competitiveness. The meeting concluded with discussions on the Aviation Programme, its key initiatives, strategies, and the alignment of national carriers’ and aviation-companies’ priorities with the programme’s objectives. It is worth noting that the Aviation Programme aims to double capacity to over 330 million passengers annually across more than 250 global destinations, and to increase cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons by the year 2030.

His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, and His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, held a meeting to explore ways to enhance joint cooperation in the aviation industry, at the Authority’s headquarters in Riyadh. During the meeting, both sides discussed the importance of integrating efforts and strengthening their strategic partnership to advance the aviation industry in the Kingdom. The discussion highlighted the mutual goals of both entities in developing the aviation manufacturing sector in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and national strategies. As part of the visit, Minister Al-Khorayef was briefed on the stages of GACA’s transformation journey and its objectives to develop the aviation and air transport sector. The presentation also included an overview of the Civil Aviation Program, which aims to position the Kingdom as a leading global aviation hub, in line with the aspirations of Vision 2030. Following the meeting, His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, accompanied by His Excellency the President of GACA, toured the Civil Aviation Museum, where they viewed its exhibits and collections that chronicle the history and early stages of Saudi civil aviation.

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has elected Eng. Mohammed bin Sami Habib, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the ICAO Council, as Chair of the Technical Cooperation and Implementation Support Committee (TCC) for a one-year term. The election took place during the first meeting of the Council’s 236th session in Montreal, Canada. This appointment reaffirms Saudi Arabia’s prominent role and strategic influence within the International Civil Aviation Organization and the global civil aviation industry. The decision reflects the Council’s confidence in the Kingdom’s leadership in supporting capacity-building initiatives for member states to enhance compliance with international civil aviation standards, ensuring the safety, security, and sustainability of the sector. It also highlights global trust in the capabilities and expertise of Saudi professionals. The ICAO Council serves as the organization’s permanent executive body, comprising 36 elected member states for a three-year term. It sets general policies, approves budgets, and makes decisions between sessions of the General Assembly. Among its key committees is the Technical Cooperation and Implementation Support Committee (TCC), which advises the Council on policies and programs related to technical cooperation, capacity building, and training.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has won two gold awards for “Best Government Contact Center” and “Best Customer Service” worldwide during its participation in the annual Contact Center World Conference held in Greece.  This international recognition highlights GACA's commitment to enhancing the passenger experience by streamlining complaint procedures and ensuring transparency in their handling, in line with the Passenger Rights Protection Regulations. It also underscores the authority’s efforts to raise awareness of passenger rights, provide multiple communication channels for beneficiaries, and ensure easy access to compensation as stipulated in the regulations.  General Manager of Beneficiary Care at GACA Eng. Faisal Alhobayb affirmed that the authority remains dedicated to delivering top-quality services to passengers and beneficiaries in accordance with the highest international standards. He emphasized that GACA continuously works to enhance communication with beneficiaries by diversifying and expanding its 24/7 communication channels and by employing advanced technologies to monitor operational performance, analyze feedback, and ensure the quality and efficiency of all services provided.