The following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:
Kingdom: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
GACA: General Authority of Civil Aviation.
Statute: Statute of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.
Board: GACA’s board of directors.
Chairman: Board’s chairman.
President: GACA’s president.
Territory of the Kingdom: Kingdom's lands, territorial waters, and the airspace thereover.
Air Transport: Commercial transportation of passengers, mail, or goods carried out by a natural or legal person by investing in airlines.
Chicago Convention: Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, ratified by Royal Decree No. M/24, dated 30/4/1381H, as well as annexes and amendments thereto.

• 1- The General Authority of Civil Aviation enjoys public legal personality and financial and administrative independence, and is organizationally linked to the Minister of Transport. Its headquarters is located in the city of Riyadh, and it may open branch offices to perform its duties and oversee its activities.

• 2- All fixed and movable assets belonging to the Presidency of Civil Aviation shall be transferred to the Authority, which will assume all obligations arising from the Presidency of Civil Aviation.

GACA shall operate according to commercial principles and standards. It shall have the powers necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities in a manner that ensures the safety and security of civil aviation and the development and expansion of the air transport industry within the territory of the Kingdom.

GACA shall aim to regulate, expand, and develop the civil aviation sector and air transport industry within the territory of the Kingdom in order to promote their national role and attract national and foreign private investments in a manner that contributes to the national economy. To that end, GACA may undertake the following:
1. Setting the implementing regulations of the civil aviation sector and air transport industry within the territory of the Kingdom and overseeing the implementation thereof by relevant agencies.
2. Overseeing the implementation of civil aviation treaties and international agreements to which the Kingdom is party, within the territory of the Kingdom.
3. Building, developing, managing, operating, maintaining, and qualifying civil airports within the Kingdom and overseeing the performance of their employees, in a manner that ensures the smooth flow of passengers, goods, and mail within airport facilities, in accordance with the provisions of the Chicago Convention and its annexes. GACA shall issue licenses necessary to build helipads and runways for agricultural aircraft and the like.
4. Building, developing, managing, operating, and maintaining air navigation systems and providing them with support equipment, as well as conducting flight inspection thereon.
5. Planning and managing air traffic within the territory of the Kingdom in a manner that ensures the safety of aviation, the flow of air traffic, and the optimal use thereof, and coordinating with relevant agencies for such purpose; issuing aeronautical information and publishing such information through various mediums; and executing technical MOUs which aim to coordinate air traffic and exchange technical information with other countries.
6. Issuing licenses and certificates to the employees of the civil aviation sector as well as licenses to stations for the repair, maintenance, and manufacture of Saudi-registered civil aircraft within the Kingdom and abroad, and creating a register in which national civil aircraft and rights arising thereon are recorded.
7. Conducting a technical investigation on accidents and incidents of civil aircraft occurring within the territory of the Kingdom and accidents and incidents of Saudi registered aircraft occurring over international waters or above lands not owned by any country, as well as participating in the investigation of accidents and incidents of Saudi-registered aircraft occurring in the territories of other countries.
8. Participating in search and rescue operations relating to civil aviation in coordination with relevant agencies.
9. Overseeing the implementation of firefighting and rescue services in the Kingdom's airports and ensuring their conformity to the requirements provided for in national and international laws.
10. Executing air transport agreements concluded between the Kingdom and other countries, and approving air trade agreements concluded between national air carriers and foreign airlines.
11. Issuing necessary licenses to establishments and companies in the air transport and civil aviation industry within the Kingdom, including licenses for operating national and foreign airlines, as well as operating scheduled and non-scheduled airlines.
12. Issuing licenses to establishments and companies involved in air freight, ground services, and support services within the Kingdom, and setting the regulatory rules therefor.
13. Regulating private air transport activities within the territory of the Kingdom.
14. Adopting air transport tariffs for passengers, mail, goods, and group trips, and setting procedures to ensure compliance therewith.
15. Carrying out relevant monitoring, inspection, and auditing activities on operations of national and foreign air transport and aviation industry establishments and companies operating in the Kingdom to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations and the licenses provisions, as well as imposing the prescribed penalties in case of violation.
16. Implementing international provisions and rules relating to civil aviation security in accordance with the Chicago Convention and its annexes as well as other relevant international agreements and conventions to which the Kingdom is party; ensuring the compliance of all agencies and companies operating within the Kingdom’s territory with the rules and procedures provided for in the National Program for Civil Aviation Security; and issuing security guides, brochures, and reports relating to civil aviation.
17. Providing relevant training for manpower through civil aviation academies and institutions and qualifying them to work in various civil aviation sectors, as well as issuing the necessary technical licenses to such institutions in coordination with relevant agencies.
18. Representing the Kingdom in the International Civil Aviation Organization as well as relevant regional and international organizations and commissions.

• The Board of Directors of the Authority is the supreme authority that dominates the affairs of the Authority, its administrations, and the management of its matters, and sets the general policy that it follows. It has, in particular, the following powers:

  • 1- Determining the objectives and setting the policies that the Authority follows to achieve its purposes, approving the necessary programs for that, and supervising their implementation.

  • 2- Approving the financial, operational, and investment regulations of the Authority in agreement with the Ministry of Finance.

  • 3- Approving the administrative organization of the Authority and its organizational guide.

  • 4- Approving the draft work plan of the Authority and its operational plans within the framework of the general plan of the state.

  • 5- Approving the budget of the Authority and submitting it to the relevant authorities according to the applicable legal procedures.

  • 6- Approving the final accounts of the Authority, its annual report, and the auditor's report, and submitting them according to the applicable legal procedures.

  • 7- Approving the functional and administrative regulations governing the affairs of the Authority's employees in agreement with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the Ministry of Finance.

  • 8- Approving the establishment of branch offices for the Authority.

  • 9- Approving the rules related to the licenses, services, and works provided by the Authority and the financial compensation for them.

  • 10- Investing the Authority's funds in a manner that achieves its purposes.

  • 11- Setting plans, rules, and procedures that ensure the Authority operates on competitive commercial bases.

  • 12- Approving the executive regulations of this organization.

  • 13- Appointing an external auditor (or more) and an internal financial controller.

  • 14- Establishing control measures that ensure the smooth operation and enhance the performance efficiency of the Authority.

  • 15- Accepting gifts, assistance, and donations in accordance with the regulations.

  • 16- Delegating the President the powers that enable him to perform the responsibilities entrusted to him in a manner that achieves the purposes of the Authority.

1. Board meetings shall be held at GACA’s headquarters and may, if necessary, be held elsewhere in the Kingdom.
2. The Board shall convene upon a call by its Chairman at least twice a year or if requested by at least half of its members. The call for a meeting must include its agenda. Board meetings shall be valid only if attended by the majority of its members, including the Chairman or Vice-Chairman. Board decisions shall be passed by the majority vote of attending members. In case of a tie, the meeting chairman shall have the casting vote. The Board may invite non-members to attend its meetings in a non-voting capacity.
3. The Board may form a committee, or more, from among its members to carry out certain tasks. It may also assign a certain task to any of its members.
4. Board deliberations and decisions shall be entered into minutes signed by the meeting chairman and attending members.

• First: The Authority shall have a President at the rank of (Minister) appointed by a royal decree, who is the executive responsible for the performance of the Authority. His responsibilities focus on supervising the Authority's work and its departments within the limits set by this regulation and what is decided by the Board of Directors. He has, in particular, the following competencies and tasks:

  • 1- Following up on the implementation of the decisions issued by the Board of Directors and informing the Board of what is being done regarding them.

  • 2- Proposing drafts of the Authority's financial, administrative, technical, and operational regulations, and submitting them to the Board of Directors.

  • 3- Supervising the Authority's staff and exercising the administrative, financial, and technical powers granted to him in accordance with this regulation and what is specified by the regulations.

  • 4- Supervising the preparation of the Authority's budget draft and submitting it to the Board of Directors.

  • 5- Supervising the preparation of the Authority's final account draft and the annual report and submitting them to the Board of Directors.

  • 6- Approving expenditure orders within the limits of the budget allocations.

  • 7- Submitting periodic reports to the Board of Directors about the Authority's work, activities, and achievements.

  • 8- Proposing the Authority's plans and programs, and supervising their implementation after approval by the Board of Directors.

  • 9- Following up on the collection of the Authority's revenues.

  • 10- Representing the Authority in its relations with other entities and before the judiciary inside and outside the Kingdom.

  • The President may delegate some of his powers and tasks to other officials in the Authority to ensure the smooth operation of work in accordance with the administrative and financial regulations and the delegations granted to him by the Board of Directors.

• Second: The Authority shall have a Vice President who is appointed and relieved of his position by a decision of the Board of Directors. His salary, allowances, and benefits shall be within the approved framework of the Authority, and he shall undertake the tasks assigned to him by the President and shall replace him in his absence.

GACA’s financial resources shall be as follows:
1. Funds allocated by the State in accordance with this Statute.
2. Revenues generated from the services rendered by GACA.
3. Gifts, aids, and donations accepted by the Board in accordance with the law.
4. Other resources the Board decides to add to GACA’s funds in accordance with the law.

• 1.GACA shall, without exception or discrimination to any agency or carrier, collect the fees charged against the use of airspace and civil aviation facilities as well as the use of GACA’s services.

• 2. GACA’s funds and revenues shall be deposited in a separate account opened under its name with the Saudi Central Bank. Disbursement from said account shall be made in accordance with GACA’s approved budget. GACA may open other accounts with any of the banks licensed to operate in the Kingdom.

• 3. GACA shall retain its revenues and directly expend therefrom on its activities. It shall self-fund its operations and investments by developing its revenues through diversifying its sources of income and optimally investing its facilities and services.

• 4. GACA shall retain an annual reserve not exceeding 20% of its revenues in excess of investment and operational expenses. All amounts exceeding such percentage shall be transferred to the State Treasury.

• 5. GACA shall seek to balance its annual revenues with its investment and operational expenses. If the annual revenues exceed the expenses, GACA shall reconsider the fees of its services. Fees of aircraft passage shall be determined in a manner that increases civil aviation competitiveness