President of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Abdulaziz Al-Duailej met Sunday at GACA headquarters in Riyadh with President of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) Omar Hisham al-Hussary.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed several topics of mutual interest and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in areas that support the exchange of expertise and strengthen integration between the two countries.
They further explored the provision of technical and advisory support for the civil aviation sector, including air traffic management and navigation services, to ensure the smooth and safe flow of air traffic between the two countries and across regional airspace. Infrastructure development projects were also discussed.
During the meeting, Al-Duailej signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for technical cooperation, in addition to holding discussions on updating the air transport services agreement.
The MoU aims to enhance cooperation between the two sides in the field of civil aviation and to strengthen bilateral cooperation based on common interests and mutual respect, in accordance with the regulations, laws, and instructions in force in both countries. It also seeks to establish regulatory frameworks governing air transport between the two countries.
In another development, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) recently announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with U.S.-based Archer Aviation, a leading company in vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, to operate air taxi services across the Kingdom.
The agreement was made during the CoMotion Global Summit 2025, held at Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) on 7-9 December 2025.
The MoU is part of the GACA’s ongoing efforts to develop the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) system. It represents a significant step in the Kingdom’s broader program to advance next-generation air mobility solutions and transform Saudi cities into global hubs for future mobility.
Under the MoU, GACA and Archer will cooperate to enhance and develop the current regulatory framework governing VTOL aircraft operations in the Kingdom. This includes maintaining alignment with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification standards to ensure operational safety and supporting the gradual rollout of air taxi services.
Additionally, GACA and Archer will conduct a series of test flights and proof-of-concept operations to validate the regulatory approach, support infrastructure development, and enhance public readiness for adopting the service.
