Saudi GACA Revenues Jump 5%

Saudi GACA Revenues Jump 5%
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Saudi GACA Revenues Jump 5%

Saudi GACA Revenues Jump 5%

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) revealed that the Kingdom’s aviation sector is undergoing core changes, especially as it expands its network of international airports.

The GACA pointed out to seven domestic airports being turned international, bringing the number of international airports in the Kingdom up to 13. A few years ago, the Kingdom only had three international airports.

This upgrade has contributed to an overall 5 percent increase in revenues.

In light of the growing importance of the airport industry, Saudi Arabia sees the civil aviation sector as a leading economic contributor that directly influences GDP.

According to the GACA, the aviation sector in the Kingdom saw an overall increase in revenues, which included subsidiaries, during 2018. Revenues amounted to more than SR8.8 billion ($2.3 billion), an increase of approximately 5 percent when compared to 2017.

Official data showed that 2018 saw an 8 percent jump in the number of passengers and flight traffic across the Kingdom’s airports.

The number of passengers in 2018 exceeded 99.86 million, while the number of flights at Saudi airports reached 771,800, an increase of 4.1 percent compared to 2017.

The GACA aims to develop and improve services provided to passengers at the Kingdom's airports.

In a comprehensive report, the GACA showed that the satisfaction rate of passengers with the quality of services provided at airports in 2018 was at 70 percent.

The number of applicants surveyed by the report reached more than 8 million passengers.



Berlin Eyes Partnership with Riyadh in Expo 2030, Climate Cooperation, Hydrogen Initiatives

Saudi and German flags fluttering - File Photo/Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi and German flags fluttering - File Photo/Asharq Al-Awsat
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Berlin Eyes Partnership with Riyadh in Expo 2030, Climate Cooperation, Hydrogen Initiatives

Saudi and German flags fluttering - File Photo/Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi and German flags fluttering - File Photo/Asharq Al-Awsat

A senior German official affirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Saudi Arabia across various fields, noting that bilateral trade relations continue to grow steadily, with trade volume reaching around 7 billion Euros.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, German Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Kindsgrab said: “The sectors driving this growth—chemicals, machinery, and transport—reflect the strong industrial connections we share. These are areas where German expertise is making a real difference in Saudi Arabia’s development.”

He added: “Looking ahead, there is much to be excited about. Expo 2030 is an incredible opportunity for us to further deepen our collaboration, showcase the best of what both Saudi Arabia and Germany have to offer, and inspire future generations to continue building on this remarkable partnership.”

German Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Kindsgrab - Asharq Al-Awsat

Renewable Energy

On climate cooperation, the official said: “As for climate cooperation, we have just launched a relevant study on the Saudi labor market in the renewable energy sector, which was reviewed by the National Labor Observatory and discussed with experts of KAPSARC, KaCare and PSU. This is a great example of our close and meaningful partnership, tackling the challenges of today with an eye on the future.”

Blossoming Relations

Kindsgrab noted that Saudi-German relations are truly blossoming, saying: "I am proud to see our partnership becoming deeper and stronger across so many areas. From a personal perspective, it is inspiring to witness the growing bonds between our two countries. These ties span a wide range of sectors, including energy, transport, architecture, health, education and culture—creating a solid foundation for the future.”

“One of the most exciting aspects of our cooperation is in the area of energy transition. German innovation is at the heart of NEOM’s green hydrogen projects, with Thyssenkrupp Nucera playing a key technological role in making the vision of decarbonization of industry a reality,” he affirmed.

“Beyond energy, we’re also seeing significant progress in transport, where Siemens’ delivery of metro wagons helped to shape the modern infrastructure of Saudi cities. And let’s not forget the impact of German architecture in megaprojects such as King Salman Park or the design of Expo 2030, which I believe will be a landmark event for both our countries, ” added Kindsgrab.

“In the health sector, the collaboration with Charité in Berlin is another example of how our nations are working together to improve lives.”

Accelerated Cultural Cooperation

“And now, I am particularly excited to see the acceleration of cultural cooperation, such as the recently launched museum initiative between the Saudi Museums Commission and the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation of Germany,” the German ambassador stressed.

“This cooperation emerged as part of our shared efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties and will play an enriching role for the cultural relations, as it includes a loan program for artworks, joint curatorship and training programs to support talent development,” he concluded.