The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has participated in the activities of the Summit of the Future, organized by the United Nations.
This marks GACA’s first official participation in UN events. The summit gathered UN member states, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and youth, with an aim to implement a unified global vision for a prosperous future.
GACA organized a virtual session on the sidelines of the summit, titled “Youth Development in the Civil Aviation Sector,” in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The participation highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting and empowering youth in line with Saudi Vision 2030, and to highlight GACA’s pivotal role in training and qualifying young cadres to contribute to the civil aviation sector.
Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, GACA president, stated that estimates indicate that there will be a need for 284,000 new pilots in the next ten years, and there is also a surging demand for Maintenance professionals. By 2030, Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector is expected to generate about 279,000 direct jobs, which represents an increase of approximately 300 percent over the current 73,000 jobs.
Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej President – GACA
“Youth constitute more than 60 percent of Saudi Arabia’s population, and this energy is exactly what we need to drive innovation and ensure the sector’s sustainability. The Saudi Vision 2030 focuses on youth development, and aviation is one of the key sectors in which we invest heavily through education, training, and professional development.”
Summit of the Future, scheduled from September 22 to September 23, aims to update and revitalize UN institutions to keep up with the pace of the 21st century’s changes and challenges. The summit was preceded by preparatory action days, from September 20 to 21, with the aim of creating additional opportunities to connect all stakeholders.
