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His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, met today with the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Kingdom, Mr. Rudolf Michalka, at the Authority’s headquarters in Riyadh. During the meeting, topics of mutual interest were discussed, and ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport were explored.

His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, met today with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kingdom, Mr. Ahmed Farooq, at the Authority's headquarters in Riyadh. During the meeting, they reviewed matters of mutual interest and discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of civil aviation.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) today launched its monthly report tracking airport and national carrier flight punctuality, measuring arrivals and departures within a 15-minute window of scheduled times. The report offers passengers transparent insights into airline and airport scheduling compliance, with the aim of improving service quality, raising standards and heightening the overall passenger experience. Eng. Abdulaziz Aldahmash, Executive Vice President, Quality and Customer Experience at GACA, stated that the punctuality tracking report supplements existing monthly performance evaluations of airports and airlines' service quality. He emphasized that this new initiative demonstrates GACA's commitment as a regulatory authority that puts passengers first while promoting ongoing enhancement of the Kingdom's aviation sector. The first edition of the report indicates that Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport, Jazan’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport, NEOM Bay International Airport, and Sharurah Airport all achieved leading positions. The report divides airports into five categories, with King Khalid International Airport ranking first in the category of international airports serving over 15 million passengers annually, achieving an 81% compliance rate. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam ranked number one in the category of international airports serving 5-15 million passengers annually, with 81% compliance. In the category of international airports serving 2-5 million passengers annually, Jazan’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport attained first place, at 91% compliance. NEOM Bay International Airport was awarded pole position in the category of international airports serving less than two million passengers annually, with 97% compliance, while Sharurah Airport topped the fifth category for domestic airports, hitting 97% compliance. Among national carriers, Saudia led the rankings with 86% on-time arrival rate and 88% on-time departures. Flynas achieved compliance rates of 71% for arrivals and 75% for departures, and flyadeal maintained 80% for arrivals and 83% for departures. The report also spotlights top-performing routes, with the domestic Abha-Jeddah service recording 95% on-time performance, and the international Dammam-Dubai route leading at 93% compliance. These latest GACA initiatives contribute to Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy, which aims to establish the Kingdom as a leading regional aviation hub via continuous boosting of operational standards, efficiency and passenger service.

His Excellency, the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duaij, extended his congratulations to 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 — may God protect them — on the occasion of the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan. His Excellency prayed to Allah Almighty to accept the fasting, prayers, and good deeds of the Muslims, and to grant the occasion many more years of joy and blessings. He also prayed for continued peace, stability, prosperity, and growth for the Kingdom under its wise leadership.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) today issued its monthly report on the performance of the Kingdom's domestic and international airports for January 2025, based on 11 key performance indicators. The report aligns with GACA's strategic directions to improve services provided to passengers, raise service quality, and enhance the passenger experience at the Kingdom's airports. The report ranked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan, Arar International Airport, and Al-Gurayat Airport among the top-performing airports. Airports were categorized into five groups. In the first category for international airports with more than 15 million annual passengers, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh ranked first with 82% compliance, surpassing King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, which came second with 82% compliance, with King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh outperforming King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah in meeting performance standards. In the second category for international airports with 5 to 15 million annual passengers, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam secured first place with 82% compliance, while Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport recorded 73% compliance. In the third category for international airports with two to five million annual passengers, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan ranked first with 100% compliance, followed by Abha International Airport with 100% compliance, with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan outperforming Abha International Airport in meeting performance standards. In the fourth category for international airports with fewer than two million annual passengers, Arar International Airport ranked first with 100% compliance, outperforming other airports in average waiting times for arrival and departure flights. In the fifth category for domestic airports, Al-Gurayat Airport secured first place with 100% compliance, surpassing all competing airports in average waiting times for arrival and departure flights. GACA's airport performance evaluation relies on 11 key performance indicators, including passenger waiting times during travel procedures, time spent at baggage claim, immigration and customs areas, and standards related to passengers with disabilities, in accordance with the best global practices.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), represented by its General Administration of General Aviation, organized a workshop in Riyadh as part of its efforts to boost international investment in the general aviation sector. More than 30 representatives participated from leading aircraft manufacturers, maintenance service providers, and ground services companies, along with representatives from the Kingdom's general aviation airports and the Ministry of Investment. The workshop seeks to attract investment to the Kingdom's general aviation market, focusing on maintenance, airport operations, and ground services sectors. It explores the latest strategic developments and promising investment opportunities in general aviation, while addressing key challenges and opportunities in this vital sector. It also examines ways to develop airport infrastructure and enhance operational efficiency, contributing to sector growth and sustainability. Furthermore, it highlights key achievements in facilitating procedures, which led to a 24% increase in general aviation traffic in 2024. During the workshop, the Director General of General Aviation at GACA, Eng. Imtiaz Manzari, stated that this event's objective is to showcase investment opportunities to foreign companies in maintenance, airport operations, and ground services sectors, with the attendance of leading airport operators in the Kingdom. He stressed that GACA is committed to creating an incentivizing business environment to attract international investors and establish the Kingdom's position as a global general aviation hub. This step aligns with the Kingdom's strategic objectives to boost its global competitiveness. As the sector continues its significant expansion, GACA maintains its efforts to develop an attractive investment climate that helps achieve general aviation roadmap objectives. The workshop serves as an important dialogue platform between government entities, companies, and foreign investors, highlighting the Kingdom's strategic directions and its efforts to enhance its competitive capability as a global general aviation hub. It also spotlights the investment incentives offered by the Kingdom and the supporting legislation aimed at attracting major specialized companies in aviation services, maintenance, and operations.