The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) on 1 December 2025 granted FlexJet a Foreign Operator Certificate, authorizing private on-demand aircraft operations within the Kingdom and making it the second foreign private aviation company permitted to conduct domestic flights. GACA’s Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics Awad Al-Sulami presented the certificate to FlexJet Chief Operating Officer Ben Watts during a ceremony at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh, according to an announcement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Context and Background
The approval follows GACA’s policy, effective 1 May 2025, to allow foreign private aircraft operators to conduct on-demand flights within Saudi Arabia once they meet the requirements of the executive regulations of the Civil Aviation Law. By issuing the certificate, GACA confirms that FlexJet has satisfied the Kingdom’s safety, security, and economic oversight standards that govern private aviation activity.
GACA emphasized that the certification process forms part of a broader effort to modernize and expand the aviation ecosystem under the Kingdom’s transport transformation agenda. As stated by Saudi authorities, advancing operator certification is a key pillar of the aviation program within the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics, which seeks to position Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector as the regional leader by 2030 and to transform the Kingdom into a global logistics hub connecting three continents.
Private aviation is recognized by Saudi officials as an important enabler of business mobility, executive travel, and high-value tourism. The decision to open domestic on-demand operations to qualified foreign providers is designed to increase capacity, diversify services, and reinforce service quality across the general and business aviation market.
Key Details
A Foreign Operator Certificate authorizes a non-Saudi operator to perform on-demand, non-scheduled flights in the Kingdom in accordance with Saudi operational rules and oversight. In practice, this permits private jet services for corporate, government, and high-net-worth clients to be dispatched between Saudi airports as needs arise, subject to the same safety, security, and air navigation procedures applied to national operators.
During the Riyadh ceremony, GACA underscored that allowing qualified foreign private aviation firms into the domestic market complements the Authority’s regulatory reforms. The measured expansion of approved operators is intended to maintain rigorous safety compliance while responding to growing demand from investors, business delegations, and visitors drawn by the Kingdom’s economic diversification and tourism programs.
By adding FlexJet to the roster of authorized providers, GACA indicated it is continuing to build a competitive environment that supports reliable access to business centers and tourism destinations. The Authority’s approach aligns certification milestones with the readiness of airport infrastructure, general aviation services, and air traffic management capacity.
Implications and Impact
For the domestic market, the certification enhances connectivity for time-sensitive travelers moving between key economic hubs such as Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern Province, as well as emerging destinations including AlUla, the Red Sea coast, and the developing NEOM region. Improved on-demand availability is expected to support executive itineraries, investor roadshows, and project site visits, helping to shorten decision cycles and accelerate commercial activity within the Kingdom.
Internationally, the move signals Saudi Arabia’s openness to high-standard global operators and its commitment to harmonizing with international aviation practices. It complements the continued expansion of scheduled services by national carriers and strengthens the broader ecosystem of maintenance, ground handling, and fixed-base operations that underpin business aviation. The result is a more resilient and diversified air transport market capable of serving major conferences, cultural seasons, and sports events that draw international audiences.
Regionally, the decision reinforces Saudi leadership in shaping the Middle East’s aviation landscape through transparent regulation and performance-based oversight. Certifying qualified foreign private aviation companies offers investors and partners clarity and predictability, key ingredients for long-term planning and cross-border collaboration. It also supports knowledge transfer and skills development as operators engage with Saudi service providers and workforce programs.
Vision 2030 Alignment
The certification advances Vision 2030 objectives by deepening connectivity, strengthening the logistics base, and broadening high-end tourism and business travel options. By coupling rigorous regulatory standards with targeted market opening, GACA is fostering a competitive, service-oriented private aviation segment that complements national carriers and expands the Kingdom’s role as a cross-continental hub. As airport infrastructure, operational capabilities, and talent pipelines continue to mature, Saudi Arabia is well positioned to scale private on-demand services in step with demand—supporting investment flows, enabling giga-project execution, and enhancing the Kingdom’s global reach through 2030 and beyond.