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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today celebrated Global Search and Rescue Day of the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme, an initiative launched by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and approved by the program’s council and member states. The occasion reflects the Kingdom’s pivotal role and leadership in search and rescue at both regional and international levels.  This initiative is part of GACA’s efforts to enhance safety and protect lives through search and rescue services. The authority presented the initiative during the International COSPAS-SARSAT Program meeting held in Riyadh in October 2024, where it gained broad support and approval from member states, underscoring the Kingdom’s active role in humanitarian action and international cooperation to safeguard lives.  The Saudi Search and Rescue Center, operating under GACA and managed by Saudi Air Navigation Services, is one of the first centers of its kind in the region. It covers seven neighboring countries and is regarded as an advanced hub that relies on the latest technologies to receive and analyze satellite distress signals, providing round-the-clock services to ensure rapid response to maritime, land, and air incidents.  Between 2020 and 2025, the center received 2,657 distress alerts, including 2,314 maritime, 236 aviation-related, and 107 individual alerts. Of these, 100 cases required search and rescue operations, resulting in the rescue of more than 250 people.

The Saudi capital, Riyadh, will host the 31st edition of Routes World 2026 from October 18 to 20, 2026 under the patronage of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in cooperation with the Saudi Tourism Authority, Matarat Holding Company, the Air Connectivity Program and organized by Talaf. Routes World is recognized as the world’s leading event dedicated to the future of global air route development. It brings together airlines, airports, tourism authorities and key aviation stakeholders to discuss and plan the future of air transport services. The event also attracts thousands of decision-makers in the aviation industry, contributing to strengthening global air connectivity and supporting the growth of tourism and international travel. On this occasion, His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of GACA and Chairman of Matarat Holding Company, stated that hosting Routes World 2026 represents a milestone in the Kingdom’s journey to cement its position as a global aviation hub linking Asia, Africa and Europe. He emphasized that the Saudi aviation sector is witnessing rapid growth, supported by major infrastructure investments and ambitious objectives aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 in tourism and economic development. He added: “Hosting this global event in Riyadh reflects the Kingdom’s remarkable progress in positioning itself as a world-class aviation hub and a leading tourism destination, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. With Saudi Arabia also hosting Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, the Kingdom is demonstrating its capability to organize world-class international events while enhancing global air connectivity to support these milestones.” For his part, Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority, said that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of this conference reaffirms its growing position as a leading destination in tourism and air connectivity. He noted: “We aim to build bridges of communication, unlock new opportunities and enhance cultural exchange. The Kingdom has recorded unprecedented growth in tourism and travel, welcoming more than 116 million visitors from around the world in 2024, a 6 percent increase compared to 2023. Air connectivity has played a key role in driving this growth, leveraging the Kingdom’s strategic location at the heart of the world.” Meanwhile, Majid Khan, CEO of the Air Connectivity Program, expressed pride in partnering with Routes World 2026 in Riyadh, the largest global event dedicated to air connectivity. He affirmed that hosting the conference in the Kingdom reflects the program’s commitment to supporting the growth of tourism and aviation. He added: “This international forum will showcase the promising opportunities that define the future of travel and aligns directly with the Kingdom’s national tourism and aviation strategies.” Stephen Small, Director of Routes, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s exceptional tourism growth, noting: “International visitor spending in the Kingdom reached USD 40.95 billion in 2024. Coupled with its strategic location and modern aviation infrastructure, Saudi Arabia is an ideal destination to host this landmark event.” King Salman International Airport in Riyadh is targeting 120 million passengers annually by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. Meanwhile, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah is undergoing multi-phase expansions to increase its capacity from 50 million passengers annually to between 80 and 114 million by 2030, and up to 100 million by 2035. Alongside these ambitious targets, the Kingdom is investing in new airlines and advanced infrastructure, including the upcoming launch of Riyadh Air by the end of 2025, which will serve more than 100 international destinations. The Saudi air transport sector recorded unprecedented growth in 2024, surpassing 128 million passengers through the Kingdom’s airports, a 15 percent increase compared to the previous year and 25 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels. The record growth continued in the first half of 2025, with Saudi airports handling 66.7 million passengers across 467,000 flights and 575,000 tons of air cargo, further consolidating the Kingdom’s position as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets worldwide.

His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), met separately today at the Authority’s headquarters in Riyadh with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Kingdom, Hans Peter van der Woude; the Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe to the Kingdom, Mr. Jonathan Wutawunashe; the Ambassador of the Republic of Bangladesh to the Kingdom, Mr. Delwar Hossain; and the Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi to the Kingdom, Mr. Jacques Jacob Andre. During the meetings, they reviewed issues of common interest related to the air transport sector and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the civil aviation industry.

His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, met today with Mr. Amara Sakor, Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia to the Kingdom, at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting reviewed topics of mutual interest and explored ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport.

As part of the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance international cooperation in civil aviation, Mr. Mohammed bin Saad Al-Fawzan, Executive Vice President for Aviation Security and Chairman of the Middle East Aviation Security Cooperative Program, paid an official visit to the Syrian Arab Republic, where he met with Mr. Omar Al-Hosari, President of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority. The meeting reviewed ways to reinforce aviation security measures between the Kingdom and Syria, focusing on developing human capabilities and expanding areas of cooperation in civil aviation to serve the interests of both countries. The visit also witnessed the launch of the activities of the Middle East Aviation Security Cooperative Program, one of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) initiatives, hosted by the Kingdom with the support and sponsorship of the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The program aims to advance aviation security capabilities across the region. It is worth noting that the Kingdom has recently supported Syria’s accession to the program, reaffirming its commitment to promoting regional integration and cooperation in the civil aviation sector.

His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, met today with His Excellency Dr. Mukhtar Khidr Abdo, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Kingdom, at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting reviewed topics of mutual interest and explored ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport.