In a remarkable milestone, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and US-based Archer Aviation have agreed to accelerate the launch of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft across Saudi Arabia.
In the light of this, GACA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Archer Aviation to operate air taxi services across the Kingdom, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The announcement came during the CoMotion Global Summit 2025, taking place at King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh.
Advancing AAM Solutions
The new agreement is part of GACA’s efforts to develop the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) system, in line with the AAM Roadmap and the aviation program objectives set forth by the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS).
Moreover, the MoU marks a significant step in the Kingdom’s broader program to develop next-generation air mobility solutions and transform Saudi cities into global hubs for future transportation.
Air Taxi Services
Under the agreement, GACA will cooperate with Archer Aviation to enhance the current regulatory framework governing VTOL aircraft operations in Saudi Arabia. This includes maintaining compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accreditation standards to ensure operational safety, as well as supporting the phased deployment of air taxi services.
Furthermore, GACA and Archer will conduct a series of trial flights and proofs of concept to validate the regulatory framework, bolster infrastructure development, and boost public readiness to adopt this service.
GACA-Archer Partnership
On this occasion, GACA’s Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability, Sulaiman Al-Muhaimedi, said that this agreement supports GACA’s roadmap for advanced air mobility and consolidates the Kingdom’s position as a leader in next-generation air transport.
Meanwhile, Archer Founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, said: “Saudi Arabia is moving with impressive speed and clarity to build a next-generation mobility ecosystem, and we are honored that GACA has chosen to work with Archer in this transformative effort. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with GACA to make the Kingdom one of the world’s first markets to embrace eVTOL aircraft at scale.”
