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Riyadh Air has received its first simulator certification from GACA for its B787-9 aircraft simulator, after it met all required aviation safety standards. The license was presented by Captain Sulaiman bin Saleh Al-Muhaimidi, GACA Executive Vice President of Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability, to Peter Bellew, COO of Riyadh Air. The license issuance demonstrates GACA's dedication to strengthening the aviation sector while adhering to international safety and quality standards. It also shows GACA's commitment to embracing new technologies and collaborating with private sector partners to enhance aviation training infrastructure, ensuring the sector's sustainable growth and leadership. This simulator represents a qualitative addition aimed at improving pilot training quality and efficiency, providing a training environment that accurately simulates reality, contributing to enhanced operational readiness and highest levels of operational safety. It is worth noting that the National Civil Aviation Sector Strategy aims to enable Saudi Vision 2030 and establish the Kingdom's aviation sector as the leading sector in the Middle East, reaching 330 million passengers, increasing air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons, and enhancing air connectivity to reach 250 destinations to and from the Kingdom's airports by 2030.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) yesterday issued its monthly performance report for December 2024 on the Kingdom's international and domestic airports, assessing them based on 11 operational performance standards to align with strategic objectives aimed at improving services, enhancing quality, and ensuring a seamless traveler experience.  King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan, Arar International Airport, and Turaif Airport ranked highly in the report, with GACA categorizing airports for performance evaluation based on annual passenger numbers to ensure a transparent approach.  Among the category of international airports with more than 15 million passengers annually, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh achieved first place with an 82% compliance rate. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah came in second, with 73%.  King Fahd International Airport in Dammam tied for the first place with Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah in the category of international airports serving 5 to 15 million passengers annually, with a 91% compliance rate. The first outperformed the latter in terms of several standards.  In the category of 2 to 5 million annual passengers, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan tied for first place with Abha International Airport, both achieving a 100% compliance rate. The first outperformed the latter by reaching higher targets in the specified evaluation criteria.  In the category of airports with fewer than 2 million annual passengers, Arar International Airport achieved a 100% compliance rate, outperforming its competitors in terms of average waiting time for departing and arriving flights.  Turaif Airport achieved first place in the domestic airport category, with a 100% compliance rate, outperforming all competing airports in terms of average waiting time for departing and arriving flights.  GACA evaluates airport performance through operational performance standards, focused on critical passenger touchpoints. These include check-in, security, passport control, customs, baggage claim, and assistance to passengers with reduced mobility. These metrics ensure a smooth and efficient travel experience for all passengers, aligning with international best practices.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) concluded its participation in the "Saudi House" initiative pavilion during the annual World Economic Forum 2025, held in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to 24. Organized by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the initiative featured contributions from several government agencies.  The GACA pavilion attracted notable visitors, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who explored the latest advancements in Saudi aviation and the future of the Kingdom's air transport sector. Their engagement underscored the growing global interest in the investment opportunities offered by Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector.  During its participation, GACA hosted two high-level discussion sessions highlighting investment opportunities, incentives, and the strategic role of aviation as a key driver of Vision 2030. The sessions showcased the achievements of the Kingdom's aviation strategy, its transformation on the global stage, and the unprecedented investment opportunities available in the sector.  GACA outlined its ambitious plans to attract investments exceeding $100 billion, encompassing airports, airlines, ground services, shipping, and logistics. Over $50 billion has been allocated for airport development, approximately $40 billion for new aircraft purchase orders, and $10 billion for other projects, including $5 billion dedicated to establishing special logistics zones around the primary airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

H.E. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), expressed his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, following the royal decree that renewed his four-year term as GACA's president with a ministerial rank. H.E. Al-Duailej acknowledged his deep appreciation for the royal trust bestowed upon him, acknowledging the extensive support that the Kingdom's civil aviation sector receives from its wise leadership. He pledged to carry out his assigned duties to serve the Kingdom and fully meet the expectations of the country's leadership. H.E. Al-Duailej added that he and all civil aviation sector personnel, reaffirm their dedication to supporting Saudi Vision 2030 objectives, sustaining growth and achievements, and strengthening the Kingdom's position as a global aviation leader, concluding with prayers for the nation's continued security and prosperity.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) explored the future of the sector and its role in supporting innovation and investment during its participation in the Saudi House pavilion at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025, held from January 20 to 24 at Davos, Switzerland. GACA highlighted its efforts to transform the civil aviation sector into an engine for innovation, sustainability, and economic growth for both the Kingdom and the world, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's leadership role on the international stage. The authority discussed investment opportunities through projects and incentives offered by the Kingdom's civil aviation sector, while emphasizing aviation's position as a key driver and supporter within Saudi Vision 2030. This was demonstrated through showcasing the achievements of the aviation sector strategy and its global transformation, alongside unprecedented investment opportunities in the Kingdom launched by the strategy aimed at establishing the aviation sector as an economic growth enabler. GACA highlighted the latest developments in major civil aviation projects in the Kingdom, such as King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, which features six runways, along with public-private partnerships for the privatization and development of Abha, Taif, Hail, and Qassim International Airports. The authority also presented investment opportunities in cargo and logistics, advanced air mobility, commercial aviation, and enabling tourism and business sectors, which play prominent roles in the Kingdom's economy, through the launch of the general aviation roadmap aimed at providing advanced infrastructure, new aircraft, and more sophisticated services. During its participation, GACA discussed the general aviation roadmap and its contribution to significantly increasing GDP, targeting tenfold growth to reach $2 billion by 2030. The sector's future direction includes adopting initiatives and programs to support private aviation, aiming to attract global investors, operators, manufacturers, and service providers to strengthen the Kingdom's position as a general aviation hub, while working to align infrastructure planning and regulations across the sector. The Saudi House pavilion reflects the Kingdom's growing international role and effective influence, serving as a platform connecting entrepreneurs, change-makers, and innovators to present strategic visions on key areas shaping our world's future. It is worth noting that the Saudi House initiative is organized by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, with participation from various government entities, and will hold several dialogue sessions to discuss the latest significant trends in social and economic transformation both locally and internationally.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GCAA) presented its general aviation roadmap and initiatives, highlighting their contribution to significantly increasing GDP, aiming to achieve tenfold growth to reach $2 billion by 2030. This presentation took place during its participation at the Saudi House pavilion as part of the World Economic Forum 2025 annual meeting, held from January 20 to 24 in Davos, Switzerland, organized by the Ministry of Economy and Planning with participation from various government entities. GACA discussed the sector's future direction through initiatives and programs supporting private aviation to attract global investors, operators, manufacturers, and service providers, strengthening the Kingdom's position as a general aviation hub and aligning infrastructure planning and regulations across the sector. Statistically, it highlighted the importance of private aviation in the Kingdom, reporting 24% growth in flight volume during 2024, with private flights increasing from 19,000 in 2023 to 23,500 in 2024. Domestic flights increased by 26% exceeding 9,200 flights, while international flights rose by 15%, reaching 14,400 flights. The Kingdom's main airports led growth in Saudi private aviation, with King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah seeing a 30% increase in private aviation traffic, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh recording 22% growth, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam showing a 7% increase. Eng. Mohammed bin Fahad Al-Khuraisi, Executive Vice President for Strategy and Business Intelligence at GACA, stated that the growing private aviation sector is key in supporting the Kingdom's tourism and business sectors, announcing GACA's implementation of a first-of-its-kind investment program to ensure the Kingdom provides advanced infrastructure and unprecedented private aviation services. He noted that the Kingdom's general aviation roadmap opens the private aviation sector to the world, offering $2 billion in investment opportunities for investors, operators, manufacturers, and service providers in this vital sector. Eng. Al-Khuraisi mentioned that GACA launched the general aviation roadmap during its participation in the Future Aviation Forum in May 2024, including a comprehensive transformation program to develop the general aviation sector to reach $2 billion by 2030, creating 35,000 jobs. Eng. Al-Khuraisi stated that the general aviation roadmap focuses on establishing advanced infrastructure and implementing robust regulations to create six airports dedicated to private aviation and nine private passenger terminals for private flights. It also aims to increase the number of service providers and maintenance and repair capabilities for private aircraft. He noted that an agreement was signed last December to make Jubail Airport one of six airports dedicated to general aviation in the Kingdom, with the goal of increasing the sector's current operational capabilities and developing private aviation services.