GACA signs MoU with Archer to accelerate air taxi deployment

The General Authority of Civil Aviation announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Archer Aviation to accelerate the deployment of eVTOL aircraft across the Kingdom. The agreement forms part of GACA’s ongoing efforts to advance the Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem in line with the AAM Roadmap and the objectives of the Aviation program under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, representing another step in the Kingdom’s broader program to develop next-generation air transport solutions.

Captain Sulaiman bin Saleh Al-Muhaimedi, Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability at GACA, commented: “This MoU is an important step in advancing the Kingdom’s vision for Advanced Air Mobility. By working with global partners such as Archer, we continue to strengthen the regulatory and operational foundations needed to safely integrate eVTOL aircraft into our aviation system. The initiative supports the AAM Roadmap and reinforces the Kingdom’s position as a regional leader in next-generation air transport.”

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. Harmonizing our certification work with the FAA and launching early demonstration operations in the Kingdom will help lay the groundwork for bringing safe, sustainable, and efficient air taxi travel to millions of people. 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.”

Under the agreement, GACA and Archer will cooperate to enhance and further mature the existing regulatory framework governing eVTOL operations in Saudi Arabia. This includes continued alignment with Federal Aviation Administration certification standards to strengthen interoperability, reinforce safety, and support the progressive scale-up of air taxi services.

GACA and Archer will also undertake a series of proof-of-concept demonstrations and experimental flights to validate regulatory approaches, support infrastructure development, and strengthen public readiness for electric air taxi services.

The agreement builds on Archer’s recent collaborations in the Kingdom, including its work with The Helicopter Company and Red Sea Global to develop eVTOL test environments, supporting Saudi Arabia’s efforts to become an early adopter and regional leader in advanced air mobility technologies.