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On International Civil Aviation Day, observed globally on December 7 each year, the occasion reinforces safety and security standards in the aviation sector while encouraging member states to support its sustainable growth and technological advancement. Established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the day highlights the importance of air transport as one of the safest modes of travel worldwide, and its vital role in supporting the global economy and developing transport infrastructure.

This year emphasizes the crucial role of air transport in driving global economic growth and advancing technological and environmental solutions. In this context, the Kingdom goes beyond celebration, leading an unprecedented strategic transformation that translates its vision into distinctive projects, positioning it as a global logistics hub and the future gateway of aviation.

From a standpoint of global leadership, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has launched the Aviation Program, derived from the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, as a fundamental pillar aimed at redefining the air transport map regionally and internationally.

Key elements of this transformation include achieving the program’s targets of reaching 330 million passengers annually and connecting to more than 250 international destinations. This strengthens the Kingdom’s role as a central hub for global trade and tourism, while advancing the implementation of major airport development and expansion projects—foremost among them King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, one of the largest airports in the world, designed to be a modern and sustainable gateway. Additionally, the launch of the new national carrier Riyadh Air will represent a qualitative addition to the air transport market and play a pivotal role in realizing ambitious objectives.

These achievements are complemented by GACA’s commitment to integrating innovation and digital transformation to ensure the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the aviation sector. This includes adopting advanced technologies in airports, such as smart gates and automated baggage handling, to enhance passenger experience, while keeping pace with global developments in artificial intelligence and advanced air mobility, including vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft in the Kingdom. All of this supports the global theme “Innovation for Sustainable Aviation” and contributes to achieving the targets of the Saudi Civil Aviation Environmental Sustainability Program.

These accomplishments reaffirm the Kingdom’s determined efforts to strengthen its infrastructure and develop systems and regulations in cooperation with ICAO, positioning it among the first countries to adopt next-generation air transport solutions and actively contribute to stimulating global economic growth.