Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vertical Aerospace, one of the world’s leading companies in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), to help establish the regulatory and operational foundations needed to enable the Kingdom’s advanced air mobility sector.
The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, currently being held in the United Kingdom, in the presence of GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej.
The MoU builds on GACA’s efforts to achieve the objectives of the Kingdom’s Advanced Air Mobility Roadmap. It also facilitates the exchange of technical expertise and best practices in certification and approvals with leading international civil aviation authorities.
The signing reflects GACA’s commitment to creating a flexible, enabling regulatory framework that supports the adoption of the latest innovative aviation technologies and the next generation of environmentally friendly aircraft. This is intended to advance the Kingdom’s air transport ecosystem and strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global logistics hub, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Aviation Program and Saudi Vision 2030.
Additionally, on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, and in the presence of the GACA President, Cluster2 Airports Company signed a MoU with Vertical Aerospace to support infrastructure solutions for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) aims to regulate the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom, develop and monitor its performance, attract private-sector investments, and develop the air transport industry and other related activities within the Kingdom, in alignment with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.
Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner, and quieter way to travel.
Valo is a piloted, four-passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical is also developing a hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility market Vertical combines partnerships with leading aerospace companies, including Honeywell, Syensqo and Sonaca, with its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world’s most advanced and safest eVTOL.
Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of Valo, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements.
Headquartered in Bristol, UK, Vertical’s experienced leadership team comes from top-tier aerospace and automotive companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM, and Leonardo. Together, they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems. (GACA; Vertical Aerospace; Photo © GACA)
