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President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej announced today that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is solidifying its position as a global leader in search and rescue operations, proposing the designation of September 10 as "International Search and Rescue Day" and revealing a $200,000 donation from the Kingdom to support the initiative. Al-Duailej made his announcement during his opening speech at the 71st meeting of the International Satellite Search and Rescue Programme (COSPAS-SARSAT), hosted by the Kingdom from October 15 to 24 and held for the first time outside the founding countries of the program—US, France, Russia, and Canada. The meeting includes participants from 45 countries and organizations and is chaired by Henrik Smith, the current chairman of the COSPAS-SARSAT Program Council. Al-Duailej highlighted the Kingdom's pivotal role in global search and rescue efforts since joining the program in 2000. The Kingdom has developed advanced search and rescue capabilities, including the establishment of the Saudi Center for Search and Rescue Missions in Jeddah. The center now serves as a key regional hub, supporting search and rescue operations for seven neighboring countries: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, and Yemen. He underscored Saudi Arabia's commitment to the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System and the Autonomous Distress Tracking technology, ensuring full regulatory compliance by aircraft operators and rescue coordination centers. The Kingdom is also adapting to technological advancements, such as drones, to enhance aviation safety and efficiency. The president of GACA also announced that Saudi Arabia will host the Central and Southern Regions Meeting in Jeddah from February 24 to 27, 2025, which will offer specialized training workshops to strengthen the capabilities of search and rescue personnel in the region. He concluded by calling for increased cooperation among all participants to create a safer and more secure future in civil aviation globally. The Kingdom's active role in search and rescue, particularly through its satellite-based efforts, further establishes it as a significant player on the international stage.

he General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued its monthly report on the performance of domestic and international airports in Saudi Arabia for September. King Khalid International Airport, King Fahd International Airport, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Al-Ahsa airport and Gurayat Domestic Airport took the leading positions, as the airports were classified into five categories. Among international airports with more than 15 million passengers annually, Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport took the first place with a compliance rate of 82%, followed with Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (73%). In the category of international airports with five to 15 million passengers annually, King Fahd International Airport led with a compliance rate of 91%. Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport came second with a compliance rate of 91%. Among international airports with two to five million passengers annually, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan took the first place with a 100% compliance rate. Abha International Airport followed with a 100% compliance rate. In the category of international airports with less than two million passengers, Al-Ahsa International Airport achieved 100% compliance, outperforming peers in terms of total average waiting time for departure and arrival flights. For domestic airports, Gurayat Domestic Airport came on top with a 100% compliance rate, surpassing peers in terms of total average waiting time for departure and arrival flights.

October 20, 2024 His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, met today with the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Kingdom, Mr. Andy Rodriguez Duran, at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. During the meeting, they discussed topics of mutual interest and explored ways to enhance cooperation between the Kingdom and the Dominican Republic in the civil aviation sector.

October 19, 2024 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) held a workshop today to update its corporate strategy, with the participation of the Vice Presidents, Directors and sector officials at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Riyadh. The workshop reflects GACA's ongoing commitment to refining and realigning its strategy to enhance its role as an independent regulatory and oversight body. It aims to enable GACA to provide world-class regulatory services and develop innovative solutions for the benefit of the global aviation industry. Discussions covered various topics, including an analysis of the current situation and the updated provisions of the corporate strategy. Participants also explored ways to improve GACA's performance and strengthen its role in elevating the sector’s standards and increasing its competitiveness. The goal is to align with the aspirations of the leadership by investing in and developing the aviation sector to better serve citizens and travelers alike.

15 October 2024 His Excellency the Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries, Eng. Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, and His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today at GACA's headquarters in Riyadh to foster mutual cooperation to enable advanced air mobility in the Kingdom. The MoU aims to support the advanced air mobility project and build industrial capabilities for developing its systems, positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in aviation innovation. The agreement outlines several key areas of cooperation, including: - Exchange of scientific and practical expertise between the two authorities. - Development of industrial capabilities for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and air traffic systems for unmanned aircraft. - Establishing working groups to coordinate relevant activities and initiatives. - Workshops, training programs, and knowledge-sharing to enhance expertise. - Collaboration on maintenance and repair service projects to support the aviation sector. This MoU aligns with the General Authority for Military Industries' role in regulating, localizing, and advancing the military industries sector, including military air transportation. It reflects the authority’s commitment to forming strategic partnerships with government entities to foster cooperation and knowledge exchange, contributing to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The MoU also advances the General Authority of Civil Aviation’s strategic goals, which focus on building partnerships to promote safe, sustainable, and efficient transportation under a regulatory framework aligned with international best practices. GACA aims to collaborate with local and global manufacturers to establish robust regulations that ensure the secure and effective operation of VTOL aircraft and advanced air mobility applications.

15 October 2024 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) concluded its participation in the World Logistics Forum 2024, held from October 12-14, 2024. The forum, organized by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services brought together more than 100 speakers, including experts, industry pioneers, sector leaders, and representatives from both government and the private sector. The event took place at the King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh. During the forum, GACA showcased the objectives of its ambitious sector strategy, which aims to increase air cargo capacity from 0.8 million tons in 2023 to 4.5 million tons by 2030. This initiative seeks to position the Kingdom a key link in global supply chains, by investing $100 billion in modernizing aviation infrastructure and leveraging Saudi Arabia’s strategic location at the crossroads of three continents. Dialogue Sessions and Highlights His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of GACA, participated in a panel discussion on the role of air freight in enhancing Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the global logistics sector. He emphasized the importance of the aviation sector strategy in addressing global logistics challenges and the role of Riyadh’s integrated logistics zoneand other zones in advancing the Kingdom’s comprehensive logistics vision. In another dialogue session focused on air freight developments, Afnan Khaled Al-Haboudel, Director General of Special Economic Zones at GACA, joined a panel of experts to discuss the latest trends and best practices for enhancing air freight standards. Licensing of Global Companies As part of its efforts to attract global companies to the integrated logistics zone in Riyadh, GACA granted four commercial licenses to international firms specializing in innovative technology, artificial intelligence, logistics services, and e-commerce. These licenses were presented in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Al-Duailej. GACA, represented by Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics, Awad bin Atallah Al-Salmi, awarded licenses to: - Sapphire: A strategic investment by a machinery company. - Bahri Logistics Services Company: To provide logistics services for Boeing’s aircraft spare parts. - Danfoss (Denmark): To conduct light manufacturing operations. - Shein: To establish a distribution center in the integrated logistics zone, positioning it as a regional hub serving the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Forum Objectives The World Logistics Forum aims to: - Enhance the efficiency of the logistics sector and promote economic growth. - Strengthen local, regional, and international connectivity within global trade networks and supply chains. - Foster public-private partnerships to boost collaboration and job creation. - Position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.