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His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Emir of Makkah Region, today honored the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) with the ‘Labaytum’ award for excellence in serving the Hajj pilgrims. The award was received by His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of GACA, at the fourth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah. The honor was in recognition of GACA’s initiative to develop the regulatory framework for the ‘Passengers with No Bags' service, which was implemented by MATARAT Holding Company. The service had a positive impact in enhancing, facilitating and organizing the departure procedures for pilgrims during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. ‘Passengers with No Bags' aims to enable arriving and departing travelers to move without the hassle of transporting their luggage. This improves the travel experience and provides more comfort for the Hajj pilgrims, contributing to achieving the Kingdom’s vision to provide exceptional services to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. In addition, a memorandum of understanding was signed at the event in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region; His Excellency Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah; His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation; and His Excellency Dr. Abdulfattah bin Suleiman Mashat, the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, to facilitate and streamline the air travel departure procedures for the guests of God. The memorandum is part of the joint cooperation between government agencies to achieve common goals in serving the guests of God and setting a general framework for joint efforts, activities, and missions. It is worth noting that GACA is participating within the Transport System Pavilion at the fourth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition 2025 held under the slogan ‘A Passage to Nusuk.’ The event is organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in Jeddah Superdome, from January 13 to 16. GACA’s participation aims to enhance cooperation with relevant government agencies through integration, empowerment, and communication to provide a smooth and distinctive experience for Hajj pilgrims.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) committee responsible for reviewing violations of the Civil Aviation Bylaw issued its report for 2024, which shows it levied 542 fines worth SAR18,892,200 on entities and individuals violating the said bylaw and the executive regulations and instructions issued by the authority.  According to the report, 111 violations were recorded against airlines for non-adherence to the authority's instructions, including those pertaining to the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) and time-slot adherence. These violations resulted in a total fine of SAR3,650,000. Nine additional violations were observed, leading to total fines of SAR290,000.  Furthermore, 305 violations were recorded for airlines not complying with the Passenger Rights Protection Regulation, resulting in total fines of SAR14,425,000. Seventeen violations were imposed on licensed companies failing to comply with GACA’s instructions and civil aviation regulations, resulting in total fines of SAR175,000. Two violations were issued against two companies for failure to comply with the provisions of the licenses issued by GACA, resulting in total fines of SAR40,000.  The report showed that the committee issued 92 violations against individuals, including 15 violations related to the use of drones without obtaining a permit from the authority, resulting in total fines of SAR75,000.  Additionally, 74 violations were related to passengers' failure to comply with aviation safety instructions and inappropriate behavior on board, resulting in a total fine of SAR79,200. Three violations were related to trespassing in restricted airport areas in violation of the authority's regulations, resulting in total fines of SAR3,000. Finally, six violations were issued against individuals for operating gliders without a permit, resulting in total fines of SAR155,000.  The authority pointed out that these measures are part of its commitment to working transparently, and said its regulatory and supervisory role in the aviation sector helps improve passenger experience and the quality of air transport services in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) is participating in the Hajj Conference and Exhibition 2025, held in the Jeddah Superdome from January 13 to 16. The fourth edition of this conference is organized by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah under the slogan "A Passage to Nusuk". GACA can be found in the Transportation System booth. GACA official spokesperson Ibtisam bin Hassan Al-Shahri stated that participation in this global event will bolster GACA’s cooperation with various relevant government agencies via integration, empowerment and communication, enhancing services to Hajj pilgrims to provide a smooth and distinctive experience. During the conference, GACA will showcase its programs and initiatives to serve Hajj pilgrims in the Kingdom's airports, along with its innovative technical solutions and digital platforms in the context of the KSA’s expanding air traffic, with the aim of improving services in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, Al-Shahri said. The Hajj Conference and Exhibition 2025 brings together more than 300 entities over four days, spotlighting cutting-edge technical solutions and services in its effort to build bridges of cooperation between various stakeholders in the Hajj and Umrah system, and highlighting new developments that improve the experience of Hajj pilgrims. The conference features almost fifty discussion sessions and fifty workshops led by over 130 local and international experts, addressing the issue of sustainability and reviewing environmentally friendly technologies to support the Hajj journey. The conference will also address the use of AI for crowd management, innovative digital solutions, and commercial opportunities for emerging companies and innovators in the Hajj sector.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced that the civil aviation sector in Saudi Arabia experienced exceptional growth in 2024, achieving record-breaking milestones in passenger numbers, flight operations, air connectivity, and air cargo volume. This announcement was made during the 15th meeting of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Saudi Aviation Strategy, held today in Riyadh. The meeting was attended by His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the Board of Directors of GACA, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, and chaired by His Excellency the President of GACA, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej. Also in attendance were His Excellency the Chairman of the Saudi Royal Aviation Board, Mr. Mohammed bin Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri; His Excellency the Assistant Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Mr. Ahmed Al-Hassan; Assistant Minister for Sports Affairs, Ms. Adwaa bint Abdulrahman Al-Arifi; along with vice presidents, CEOs, officials, and directors representing national airlines and companies operating in the Kingdom’s civil aviation sector. During the meeting, participants celebrated Saudi Arabia's successful bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. They emphasized the Kingdom’s preparedness to welcome fans, including for other major events such as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and Expo 2030. The meeting also marked the fourth anniversary of the launch of the Saudi Aviation Strategy. On this occasion, Eng. Al-Jasser highlighted the substantial support and empowerment the aviation and air transport sector in Saudi Arabia receives from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He praised the achievements of the Saudi Aviation Strategy, driven by the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. He explained that preliminary figures for the aviation sector in 2024 showed a 15% increase in passenger numbers, reaching over 128 million passengers—a 24% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels. Flight operations grew by 11%, totaling more than 902,000 flights. Air connectivity expanded by 16%, connecting Saudi Arabia to 172 destinations worldwide. Air cargo volume also witnessed exceptional growth of 34%, surpassing 1 million tons for the first time in 2024. Al-Jasser congratulated the entire sector on these significant and diverse achievements made possible by the support of the wise leadership. He stressed the importance of complete readiness across all sectors of the transport and logistics system and early preparation for this exceptional event, to deliver a unique Saudi experience. For his part, the President of GACA stated that the success achieved over the past year is a result of the collaborative efforts of all workers in the sector. He noted that Saudi civil aviation recorded remarkable growth during 2023 and 2024, making significant strides in air connectivity, passenger numbers, and air cargo services. He said, "This progress reflects the commitment of the Saudi aviation system to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in the aviation sector through the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which is derived from the National Transport and Logistics Strategy." He pointed out that the aviation sector has achieved unprecedented accomplishments since the Council of Ministers approved the Saudi Aviation Strategyfour years ago. This strategy has been a driving force for transformation, contributing to growth and innovation and reinforcing the sector’s global leadership. In conclusion, His Excellency described the accomplishments of the strategy over the past four years as exceptional by all standards, affirming the sector’s capability to drive economic growth and enhance air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the world in the coming decade. The Kingdom’s civil aviation sector has witnessed remarkable progress since the launch of the Saudi Aviation Strategyfour years ago. This includes the privatization of airports and their transfer to the ownership of the Airports Holding Company, the establishment of Riyadh Air, the launch of the master plan for King Salman International Airport and the master plan for the new Abha International Airport, and the inauguration of the Integrated Logistics Zone in Riyadh—the Kingdom’s first fully integrated special logistics zone. Additionally, major global companies have been attracted to the zone and granted business licenses, including Apple, Chalhoub Group, iHerb, and Korea's CJ Logistics. The launch of the zone’s digital platform, a new passenger rights regulation, and the largest reform in the aviation sector's economic regulations in 15 years are also among the major achievements. Moreover, the Saudi Civil Aviation Environmental Sustainability Program was launched and activated, along with the release of two roadmaps for Advanced Air Mobility and General Aviation. Saudi Arabia also achieved a 94.4% score in the aviation security audit, securing seventh place among G20 countries in aviation security and ranking 18th and 13th in international air connectivity over the past two years, compared to 27th place in 2018, according to the Air Connectivity Index report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The 15th Steering Committee meeting for implementing the Saudi Aviation Strategy also witnessed the participation of leaders from the Kingdom’s sports and tourism sectors, including the team responsible for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the World Cup. Discussions focused on the role of the civil aviation sector in preparing for the Kingdom’s hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup and other major global events to be held in Saudi Arabia over the next decade.

His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), met the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Kingdom, Dr. Mukhtar Kedir Abdu, at the St. Regis Hotel in Riyadh today. During the meeting, both sides reviewed topics of mutual interest and discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport.

His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, met today with His Highness Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom, at the Authority's main headquarters in Riyadh. During the meeting, they reviewed topics of mutual interest and explored ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport.