Saudi grants Air Arabia consortium license for new Dammam-based carrier

Dhaka: Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) awarded an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to the Air Arabia consortium on September 14, paving the way for a new national low-cost carrier based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

The certificate was presented in the presence of Saudi Arabia's Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and GACA Board of Directors Chairman Saleh Al-Jasser, along with GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, after the consortium cleared all technical, safety, and regulatory compliance requirements under the Civil Aviation Law.

GACA Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability Captain Sulaiman bin Saleh Almuhaimedi said launching operations from Dammam would boost market competition and stimulate economic and tourism activity in the Eastern Region, while generating new local employment opportunities.

He added that the move underscores GACA's regulatory role in building an attractive investment climate for the air transport sector.

According to Almuhaimedi, the new carrier is set to strengthen Saudi Arabia's air connectivity by serving 24 domestic and 57 international destinations, with plans to carry approximately 10 million passengers annually by 2030.

The initiative aligns with the strategic programs under Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to expand the kingdom's aviation sector and diversify its economy beyond oil.