GACA Awards Air Operator Certificate to Air Arabia Consortium for New Dammam-Based Carrier

تُسَلِّمُ شهادة المشغل الجوي للعربية للطيران

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) awarded an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to the Air Arabia consortium on Monday, paving the way for the launch of a new national low-cost carrier based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The certificate was awarded in the presence of Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of GACA’s Board of Directors Saleh Al-Jasser and GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, after the consortium fulfilled all regulatory, safety, security, and operational quality requirements under the Implementing Regulations of the Civil Aviation Law. GACA Executive Vice President of Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability Captain Sulaiman Almuhaimedi said the certificate marks an important step toward achieving the Aviation Program’s objectives under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which seeks to establish Saudi Arabia as a global logistics and international aviation hub. “The launch of Air Arabia’s operations from Dammam will strengthen competition and performance in the air transport market, stimulate economic and tourism activity in the Eastern Province, and create new local jobs,” Almuhaimedi said. He noted that the consortium had completed all required technical and regulatory procedures to ensure the highest levels of safety and operational compliance. The milestone also reflects GACA’s role in regulating air transport and fostering an attractive investment environment. The carrier will serve 24 domestic and 57 international destinations and transport around 10 million passengers annually by 2030, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. On 20 July 2025, GACA announced the Air Arabia consortium—comprising Air Arabia Group, Nesma Group, and KUN Holding Company—as the winning bidder after it submitted the best proposal with majority Saudi ownership. The carrier is expected to create over 2,400 direct jobs, contribute to GDP, and support tourism and air connectivity in the Eastern Province, advancing the Aviation Program’s objectives.

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