At the 42nd General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Chairman Saleh Al-Jasser announced a $1 million contribution. The donation, directed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, will support ICAO’s “No Country Left Behind” program for 2025–2028, which assists developing countries in implementing aviation safety and security standards.
Al-Jasser highlighted Saudi Arabia’s influential role in international aviation, noting the Kingdom’s high rankings in aviation safety and security. Additionally, he emphasized the nation’s strong partnership with ICAO and its active participation in shaping global aviation policies and practices.
Logistics Strategy
The minister outlined Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive aviation goals under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. These include:
- Transporting over 330 million passengers annually by 2030
- Connecting to 250 international destinations
- Attracting over $100 billion in investments
- Developing infrastructure such as King Salman International Airport, which will accommodate 120 million passengers
- Training 50,000 professionals in the aviation sector by 2030
Economic Impact, International Events
According to Al-Jasser, the aviation industry contributes more than $53 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP and creates around one million jobs. The Kingdom has also hosted major international events, including the ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN2023) and the upcoming ICAO Facilitation 2024 Global Summit.
Sustainability, Innovation
Saudi Arabia is working toward net-zero emissions by 2050 through investments in low-carbon infrastructure, fleet modernization, and sustainable aviation fuels. Al-Jasser cited Red Sea International Airport, which runs entirely on renewable energy, as a model of sustainable operations. He also highlighted the autonomous air taxi used during Hajj 2024 as an example of the Kingdom’s innovative approach to aviation.
Al-Jasser underscored Saudi Arabia’s leadership in regional aviation, serving as chair of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) Executive Council and hosting the Cooperative Aviation Security Program – Middle East (CASP-MID) headquarters. Finally, he extended an invitation to all ICAO member states to participate in the Future of Aviation Conference, scheduled for April 20–22, 2026, in Riyadh.
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