Regulations and Government
Saudi Arabia's General Aviation Plan 2.0 Will Take Time
Domestic industry players have urged Saudi officials to act faster
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. © AdobeStock

It is difficult to comprehend the scope of the changes Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) is contemplating in order to bring general aviation into its own in the massive country, a MEBAA 2024 show panel on opportunities there heard this week.

According to Worldometers, Saudi Arabia is the 13th-largest country in the world, at a size of 870,000 sq mi. It has around 30 domestic and international airports. Burgeoning developments in the northwest are opening up a new and long-neglected part of the county, with the Neom giga project the ultimate prize.