Hyderabad, January 18, 2024, Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), emphasized the pivotal role of the Saudi Aviation Strategy in fostering economic development within the Kingdom and presenting lucrative opportunities for global investors. The strategy aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, aspiring to position the Kingdom as a leading regional hub and a global logistics platform connecting three continents.
During his participation in a ministerial session at the (Wings India 2024) exhibition conference, organized by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Al-Duailej highlighted the profound impact of civil aviation on economic growth and sustainable development in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Duailej remarked, "The Kingdom has made significant strides in reshaping the future of the civil aviation sector, driven by the Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Aviation Strategy. These initiatives aim to underscore Saudi Arabia's leadership in civil aviation in the Middle East, with a target of attracting $100 billion in investments and creating an unparalleled travel experience for over 330 million passengers annually by 2030."
He further emphasized the strategy's comprehensive plan, encompassing the enhancement of airports, airlines, aircraft, and facilities, including shipping and logistics services. The goal is to expand the Kingdom's air connectivity to over 250 destinations globally through 29 airports. Additionally, the strategy entails the establishment of two global connectivity centers in Riyadh and Jeddah.
"The Saudi Aviation Strategy aims to bring about a substantial qualitative shift in air freight and logistics services, with the ambition to increase air freight capacity from 0.8 million tons to 4.5 million tons by 2030. This initiative stands as one of the most ambitious endeavors to attract global air carriers, logistics service providers, and multinational companies to the Kingdom," explained Al-Duailej.
Recognizing the promising opportunities in the Indian civil aviation market, Al-Duailej expressed the Kingdom's eagerness to participate actively in increasing air links between India and Saudi Arabia. He highlighted the importance of strengthening relations with global partners, including India, given its status as the third-largest domestic aviation market and its projected rise to the third-largest market overall by 2026.
As an invitation to the participants in the (Wings India 2024) exhibition, Al-Duailej urged attendance at the Future of Aviation Conference scheduled for May 20 to 22, 2024, in Riyadh. He emphasized the Kingdom's commitment to contributing effectively to the future of civil aviation and collaborating with international partners for a more prosperous, growing, and sustainable sector.
The Wings India 2024 conference and exhibition, showcasing advanced air transport solutions, is poised to transform civil aviation and open new markets for air travel in the coming decades. With over 5,000 participants expected, including civil aviation authorities, airlines, and industry-related companies, the exhibition stands as a pivotal event in Asia, drawing approximately 100,000 visitors and solidifying its status as a cornerstone in the aviation sector.
