Regulations and Government
Saudi Arabia Signals Desire To Unlock Business Aviation Growth
Regulator releases plan to make market access easier
Red Sea International Airport, Saudi Arabia
Red Sea International Airport, shown here while under construction, opened in September 2023.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long been regarded as the jewel in the crown of the Gulf region’s business aviation market, albeit a jewel that has often seemed quite unobtainable due to an array of complex obstacles. As has happened in China, albeit in a different context, anti-corruption initiatives—epitomized by the 2017 arrests of prominent ultra-high-net-worth Saudis—have resulted in private aviation maintaining a distinctly low profile.

More recently, there have been signs of hope for companies waiting patiently for improved market access, with Saudi regulators seemingly following directives from the very highest echelons to be more open to outsiders. The Kingdom’s spate of high-profile investments in projects on its Red Sea coast and efforts to attract major sporting and cultural events appear to be fueling a renewed focus on the market.