General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Saudi Arabia

About

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) is Saudi Arabia's civil aviation regulator, responsible for airworthiness, operational authorization, and aviation policy in the Kingdom. President is Abdulaziz A. Al-Duailej. EVP for Aviation Safety is Captain Sulaiman bin Saleh Al-Muhaimedi.

GACA published its Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Roadmap in January 2024, providing the formal regulatory framework for eVTOL operations in the Kingdom. Key GACA actions to date:

• 21 June 2023: Issued Special Flight Authorization for Volocopter NEOM test flight, after 18 months of pre-flight collaboration.
• 22 January 2024: Published AAM Roadmap.
• 12 June 2024: Supported EHang EH216-S Mecca Hajj flight alongside Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and Ministry of Interior.
• 22 July 2024: Signed MoU with Lilium at Farnborough Airshow on eVTOL regulatory development (counterparty Lilium dissolved Feb 2025).
• 12 November 2025: Signed framework MoU with Joby Aviation.
• 10 December 2025: Signed framework MoU with Archer Aviation.

GACA's regulatory posture has been collaborative and case-by-case to date; no standalone Saudi-specific eVTOL operational regulation has been published as a binding rule beyond the Roadmap framework.

Key facts

Timeline

1. 2023-06-21
   GACA issues Special Flight Authorization for Volocopter NEOM test flight. [gaca-2024-01-22]
2. 2024-01-22
   GACA publishes Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Roadmap. [gaca-2024-01-22]
3. 2024-06-12
   GACA supports EHang EH216-S Mecca Hajj flight. [gaca-2024-01-22]
4. 2024-07-22
   GACA signs MoU with Lilium at Farnborough Airshow. [gaca-2024-01-22]
5. 2025-11-12
   GACA signs framework MoU with Joby Aviation. [archer-ir-2025-12-10]
6. 2025-12-10
   GACA signs framework MoU with Archer Aviation. [archer-ir-2025-12-10]

Practical info

How to get there

By metro

n/a

By car

n/a

From the airport

n/a

Regulatory status

GACA is Saudi Arabia's civil aviation regulator. The AAM Roadmap published January 2024 provides the formal framework for eVTOL operations. Specific operational authorizations have been case-by-case (Volocopter NEOM, EHang Mecca). No standalone Saudi-specific eVTOL operational regulation has been published as a binding rule.

Current progress

As of 20 May 2026, GACA holds active framework MoUs with Joby and Archer. The Lilium MoU is effectively stranded post-insolvency. Saudi sandbox operations under THC+Red Sea Global partnerships with Joby and Archer are scheduled for H1 2026 — no Special Flight Authorizations published as of this date.

Connected entities

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. [gaca-2024-01-22] GACA Saudi Arabia — Advanced Air Mobility Roadmap (22 Jan 2024) regulatory · accessed 2026-05-20
2. [archer-ir-2025-12-10] Archer Aviation IR — Saudi Arabia's GACA Advances Archer's Pathway for Electric Air Taxi Deployment (10 Dec 2025) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-20
3. [archer-ir-2025-11-19-thc] Archer Aviation IR — PIF's The Helicopter Company, Archer Aviation, and Red Sea Global Partner to Launch eVTOL Air Mobility in Saudi Arabia (19 Nov 2025) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-20

Verification flags

• GACA AAM Roadmap PDF URL has been cited in research but may have moved on gaca.gov.sa; current resolution may require search at gaca.gov.sa.
• Lilium MoU is effectively stranded post-Lilium-insolvency (Feb 2025).
• Joby and Archer MoUs are framework regulatory collaborations, not binding aircraft purchase agreements.
• Detailed text of GACA's AAM Roadmap not analyzed for this entry; entry covers the Roadmap's existence and key actions only.