Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has handed the Air Arabia consortium the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for a new domestic low-cost airline based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, after it met regulatory requirements and safety, security and operational quality standards.
The certificate was handed over in the presence of Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, according to a post on the Saudi Press Agency website.
The new project aims to serve 24 domestic and 57 international destinations and carry 10 million passengers a year by 2030, while creating more than 2,400 direct jobs.
Sulaiman bin Saleh Al-Muhaimidi, the authority's Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability, said handing over the operating certificate is a step toward the goals of the Aviation Program stemming from the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.
He added that starting operations from Dammam will boost competition in the air transport market, support economic and tourism activity in the Eastern Province and create local jobs.
He noted that the certificate was granted after the consortium passed the required technical and regulatory stages and procedures related to safety standards and operational compliance.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on 20 July 2025 that the Air Arabia consortium had won the tender for the project as the best bid submitted with majority Saudi ownership.
The consortium is made up of Air Arabia Group, Nesma Group and Kun Holding, and the project aims to support air connectivity for the Eastern Province, increase tourism and contribute to GDP in line with the goals of the Aviation Program and Saudi Vision 2030.
To view the post on the Saudi Press Agency website, click here.
