Saudi Arabia to reveal roadmap to turn aviation sector into $2bn industry

An ambitious roadmap setting out how Saudi Arabia will grow its aviation sector tenfold into a $2 billion industry will be unveiled at a special event in May.

The plans cover the business jet segment, including charter, private, and corporate aircrafts, and will support Saudi Arabia’s development as a global high-value enterprise and tourist destination.

Details of the roadmap will be set out at the 2024 Future Aviation Forum, convening 5,000 leaders, including private investors, operators, and service providers, set to be held in Riyadh from May 20 to 22.

The plan comes after Saudi Arabia revised its 2030 tourism target upwards from 100 million to 150 million visitors in October 2023.

The forum is set to be hosted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and the organization’s President Abdulaziz-Al Duailej said: “General aviation is vital to growing high-value sectors of the Saudi economy, including tourism, business and entertainment events.

“The General Aviation roadmap will turbocharge the sector within the Kingdom, transforming infrastructure and regulations, simultaneously developing, promoting and enhancing general aviation services in the market.

“GACA looks forward to hosting general aviation investors, operators and service providers at the Future Aviation Forum in May, where we will launch this ambitious plan to global audiences.”

The roadmap will support private aviation aircraft owners, lessors, and investors, as well as operators and service providers, through coordinated infrastructure investment and regulatory streamlining.

The announcement follows GACA’s removal of “empty-leg restrictions” – which relate to when an aircraft is flying without passengers or cargo on board – and simplification of economic license requirements for operators and investors in October 2023, to boost the general aviation sector.

FAF 2024 will see aviation leaders from over 100 countries, including ministers, regulators, manufacturers, airlines, and airports, gathering in Riyadh.

It has already been announced that the event will see Saudi Arabia unveil more than $100 billion in investment opportunities to enable its ambitious Saudi Aviation Strategy.

The forum’s investment showcase will highlight projects and incentives including airports, airlines, ground services, cargo and logistics.

Of the $100 billion in investment opportunities, airports account for more than $50 billion, new aircraft orders about $40 billion, while the remaining $10 billion is earmarked for other projects, including $5 billion in special logistics areas around the main airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

The 2022 edition of the forum saw the signing of more than 50 agreements and $2.7 billion in deals, and the upcoming event will feature commercial announcements, alongside the roadmap and specialist general aviation panel sessions.