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Saudi Arabia confirms 2026 Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation
(GACA) has announced that the Future Aviation Forum (FAF) 2026 will take place
in Riyadh from 20 to 22 April. The event is expected to bring together more
than 11,000 aviation leaders and experts, including ministers, regulators,
manufacturers, airlines and airport representatives.
The forum will be held under the patronage of King
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and is recognised by the International Civil
Aviation Organization as a leading global aviation platform. The previous
edition generated over 100 agreements and deals valued at approximately $20
billion.
Continued growth in passenger traffic
Alongside the forum announcement, GACA reported a
third consecutive year of record aviation growth. In 2025, Saudi Arabia handled
140.9 million passengers, representing a 9.6% increase compared with the
previous year. Flight movements rose by 8.3%, reaching 980,000 operations.
Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh
Al-Jasser said:
“Saudi aviation is soaring to new heights, delivering
connectivity and growth in support of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 agenda and the
objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. The 2026 Future
Aviation Forum will showcase the unprecedented investment, growth, and
innovation opportunities being created across the Kingdom for global investors,
suppliers, and operators.”
Addressing global aviation challenges
FAF 2026 will be held under the theme “Unlocking
Global Growth, Designing the Future Sky.” According to GACA, discussions will
focus on key industry challenges, including supply chain resilience, capacity
constraints, geopolitical disruptions and human capital development.
GACA President Abdulaziz-Al Duailej stated:
“The 2026 Future Aviation Forum will once again unite
global aviation leaders to solve aviation's biggest challenges. Saudi Arabia is
committed to providing global leadership on the world's biggest aviation
issues, including manufacturing supply chains, capacity constraints,
geopolitical disruptions, and the development of human capital across the
world.”
Expanding global connectivity
GACA’s 2025 Air Traffic Report highlights the
Kingdom’s expanding aviation footprint. Saudi Arabia now offers connectivity to
176 destinations, a 78% increase compared with pre-pandemic levels.
International passenger volumes reached 76 million, while domestic traffic rose
to 65 million passengers.
The country’s aviation expansion continues under
Vision 2030, supported by more than 500 aircraft on order across national
carriers and ongoing airport capacity projects.
Registration for the Future Aviation Forum 2026 is
open at
Future Aviation Forum 2026 | Saudi Arabia
Image Credit: © General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)
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