Universal Weather and Aviation inked an agreement with Altanfeethi to explore opportunities for transforming general aviation infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the companies announced on Tuesday afternoon at EBACE 2024. The move comes a week after the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) unveiled a general aviation roadmap to increase the sector’s GDP to $2 billion by 2030, in line with the nation’s wider Vision 2030 plan and the Saudi Aviation Strategy.
"Universal this year is 65 years old," said Universal chairman Greg Evans at the signing ceremony. "For 50 of those 65 years, we have been doing business in Saudi Arabia...and it gives me pride and I feel very honored today to say that we have found one of the best partners for our company to explore opportunities in the country together."
Altanfeethi, which is organized under GACA, manages and operates several VIP terminals in the kingdom and is engaging with Universal’s FBO Ground Services division to offer above- and below-the-wing services. Universal already operates FBOs and ground service in more than 30 countries, and under the agreement could potentially manage Altanfeethi’s VIP terminals.
The companies will explore opportunities to create further VIP aircraft terminals, FBOs, and other infrastructure at more locations in line with the kingdom’s vision and GACA’s general aviation roadmap.
Under that roadmap, Support for the general aviation/business sector will include coordinated investment in infrastructure and regulatory reforms, along with measures to develop Saudi Arabia as a high-value tourist destination.
“General aviation is vital to growing high-value sectors of the Saudi economy, including tourism, business, and entertainment events,” said GACA president Abdulaziz Al-Duailej. “The general aviation roadmap will turbocharge the sector within the kingdom, transforming infrastructure and regulations, simultaneously developing, promoting, and enhancing general aviation services in the market.”
Several key targets are part of the roadmap, including the creation of up to 35,000 jobs in the general aviation sector, a considerable increase on the 2021 number of fewer than 3,000. Business aviation is a critical element of the sector, and directly related targets include 24 business jet flights per 10,000 inhabitants, as opposed to just five in 2021.
The roadmap also specifies that more than 90% of business jets owned by Saudi nationals should be based in the kingdom rather than overseas. In 2021, the proportion amounted to just 5%.
Other targets include a 60% market share of international flights for local operators, the creation of six new dedicated general aviation airports, and seven further dedicated general aviation terminals at commercial airports to bring the number to nine. An increase in the number of FBOs, to three, is also specified.