The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej has confirmed that the Saudi civil aviation sector is going through a major transformation. This transformation is both in terms of speed and size, thanks to the efforts of the national aviation sector to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in creating a diversified economy. Al-Duailej made these remarks while addressing the first International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Forum on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), which is happening in Montreal, Canada. The conference is scheduled to run from September 9 to 12, with Al-Duailej leading the Saudi delegation.
During the conference, Al-Duailej highlighted Saudi Arabia’s pioneering role in aviation and international civil aviation, mentioning the launch of an advanced air mobility road map. This road map is based on seven main axes, including adopting technical solutions, developing infrastructure, achieving comprehensive governance, building trust, attracting investments, setting regulations and systems, and empowering human capital. The GACA also organized the third edition of the Future of Aviation Conference in May 2024, where they showcased advanced air transport aircraft. Additionally, Al-Duailej mentioned that the air taxi experiment conducted during the Hajj season in June exemplifies the role that advanced air mobility can play in various aspects of life.
Looking ahead, Al-Duailej unveiled plans to establish a capabilities center by 2028, focusing on training local talents and attracting global minds and competencies. The aim is to make flying taxis easily accessible to travelers by simply calling them through their smartphones. He emphasized the potential of advanced air mobility in various aspects of daily life like transportation, tourism, healthcare, and agriculture. The global market for advanced air mobility is projected to grow significantly from $9.7 billion in 2023 to approximately $50 billion by 2032, indicating a wealth of opportunities in this market.
As part of the forum’s agenda, ICAO awarded the Advanced Air Mobility Global Academic Paper Competition to students at KAUST, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s capabilities in the field of advanced air mobility. The success of Saudi Arabia’s plans to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2060 through integrating and enabling advanced air mobility was also highlighted. These steps underline Saudi Arabia’s commitment to integrating advanced technologies into its private transport network, with the goal of doubling annual passenger numbers to over 300 million by the end of the decade.
The ICAO Forum on Advanced Air Mobility in Montreal aims to bring together global civil aviation leaders, academia, government, and international organizations in the field of advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems. The purpose is to foster discussions, share experiences, and explore best practices, lessons learned, and related challenges in this rapidly evolving sector. The forum provides a platform for collaboration and innovation in advancing the future of aviation and air transport.
