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Universal Aviation Secures License to Operate and Manage New General Aviation Terminal in Dammam
Saudi Arabia’s GACA authorises Universal Aviation to provide ground handling and terminal operations at King Fahd International Airport to support private aviation growth
Universal Aviation has been granted a formal economic licence by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation to operate and manage the General Aviation Terminal at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, marking a significant expansion of private aviation infrastructure in the Kingdom.
The licence authorises the global ground handling specialist to provide comprehensive ground handling services and oversee terminal operations at the airport’s private aviation facility, after satisfying regulatory and economic criteria under Saudi law.
The announcement was made during an inauguration ceremony for the new terminal and an upgraded Category III Instrument Landing System on the western runway, attended by senior officials including Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, and aviation leadership.
The new General Aviation Terminal forms part of broader efforts under Saudi Arabia’s Aviation Sector Strategy to attract foreign investment, broaden operational options for private and business aviation operators, and enhance the competitiveness of the Kingdom’s aviation sector.
The licence underscores the government’s commitment to opening the general aviation market to international operators and expanding services that meet growing demand from private and business flight movements in the region.
Universal Aviation’s appointment as the operator and ground handler at Dammam builds on the company’s existing and planned operations in Saudi Arabia, where it is also developing facilities at other major airports as part of its broader Middle East expansion.
King Fahd International Airport, located in the Eastern Province, serves as a key gateway for industrial, commercial and tourism activity.
The addition of a licensed general aviation operator is expected to bolster services for private jet travellers and contribute to the Kingdom’s goal of positioning itself as a leading global aviation hub under its Vision 2030 economic transformation programme.
The upgraded navigation capabilities and enhanced terminal facilities are designed to improve operational continuity and passenger experience in all weather conditions, further strengthening Dammam’s role in national and regional aviation networks.
The licence authorises the global ground handling specialist to provide comprehensive ground handling services and oversee terminal operations at the airport’s private aviation facility, after satisfying regulatory and economic criteria under Saudi law.
The announcement was made during an inauguration ceremony for the new terminal and an upgraded Category III Instrument Landing System on the western runway, attended by senior officials including Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, and aviation leadership.
The new General Aviation Terminal forms part of broader efforts under Saudi Arabia’s Aviation Sector Strategy to attract foreign investment, broaden operational options for private and business aviation operators, and enhance the competitiveness of the Kingdom’s aviation sector.
The licence underscores the government’s commitment to opening the general aviation market to international operators and expanding services that meet growing demand from private and business flight movements in the region.
Universal Aviation’s appointment as the operator and ground handler at Dammam builds on the company’s existing and planned operations in Saudi Arabia, where it is also developing facilities at other major airports as part of its broader Middle East expansion.
King Fahd International Airport, located in the Eastern Province, serves as a key gateway for industrial, commercial and tourism activity.
The addition of a licensed general aviation operator is expected to bolster services for private jet travellers and contribute to the Kingdom’s goal of positioning itself as a leading global aviation hub under its Vision 2030 economic transformation programme.
The upgraded navigation capabilities and enhanced terminal facilities are designed to improve operational continuity and passenger experience in all weather conditions, further strengthening Dammam’s role in national and regional aviation networks.
