The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVOTL) manufacturer Lilium have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Farnborough International Airshow to support GACA’s development of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions in the Kingdom.
The agreement further strengthens GACA’s engagement with global companies to bring new aviation mobility solutions to Saudi Arabia. GACA is working across the industry to ensure Saudi Arabia has a set of regulations that encourages growth, ensures the highest levels of safety and puts the passenger first.
His Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of GACA, said “This agreement reflects GACA’s commitment to advancing innovative and sustainable air mobility solutions for Saudi Arabia, in support of Vision 2030” .
“By working with global advanced air mobility companies, we aim to establish a robust regulatory framework that ensures the safe and efficient operation of eVTOL aircraft."
GACA has developed a comprehensive national roadmap for AAM with contributions from stakeholders and companies across the world. This roadmap outlines the necessary enablers and governance required to ensure the safe and efficient deployment of AAM technologies. The roadmap's implementation phase will focus on integrating eVTOL operations with traditional aviation systems and other modes of transportation.
Lilium CEO Klaus Roewe said the MoU acknowledges Lilium's commitment to advancing AAM regulations. “Our goal is to jointly advance regulatory and practical steps for suitable framework conditions for electric aviation and our customers in Saudi Arabia,” Roewe said “Today’s agreement delivers on one of the main ingredients required to successfully launch eVTOL operations - a definitive path to all relevant regulatory cornerstones."
The announcement follows SAUDIA Group’s purchase of up to 100 eVTOL aircraft from Lilium announced on 18 July, further solidifying Saudi Arabia's position in pioneering the adoption of cutting-edge air mobility solutions.
The announcement also builds on the momentum of recent successful air taxi trials in support of GACA’s AAM roadmap development.
In June 2024, GACA, in partnership with the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, the Ministry of Hajj, the Ministry of Interior, and Front End Limited Company, conducted a historic air taxi trial in Mecca using the EH216-S pilotless eVTOL aircraft.
In 2023, a successful air taxi trial was also conducted at NEOM by Volocopter, marking significant progress in integrating eVTOL technology into Saudi Arabia’s aviation landscape.
About the Saudi Aviation Strategy and GACA
The Saudi Aviation Strategy is transforming the entire Saudi aviation ecosystem to become the number one aviation sector in the Middle East by 2030, enabled by Vision 2030 and in line with the Kingdom’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy.
The Strategy is unlocking US$100 billion in private and government investment across the Kingdom’s airports, airlines and aviation support services. The Strategy will extend Saudi Arabia’s connectivity from 99 to more than 250 destinations across 29 airports, triple annual passenger traffic to 330 million, establish two global long-haul connecting hubs, and increase air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons.
The Saudi Aviation Strategy is led by the Kingdom’s aviation regulator, the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA). GACA’s regulatory mission is to develop the air transport industry in accordance with the latest international standards, strengthen the position of the Kingdom as a globally influential player in civil aviation, and enforce the relevant rules, regulations and procedures to ensure air transport safety and security.
