Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Saudi capital, Riyadh, is preparing to host the fourth edition of the "Future of Aviation 2026" international conference, organized by the General Authority of Civil Aviation from April 20 to 22, 2026. This event underscores the pivotal role the Kingdom plays in shaping the future of the global air transport industry.
Supporting leadership and empowering the transport and logistics sector
Commenting on the announcement, the Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the generous and unlimited support the transport and logistics sector receives in the Kingdom. Al-Jasser emphasized that this gracious patronage reflects the wise leadership's commitment to consolidating the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents, which aligns perfectly with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy launched by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to enhance the sector's infrastructure and operational capabilities.
A global platform for innovation and sustainability
For his part, the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailij, explained that the conference has become an indispensable event for decision-makers and aviation leaders worldwide. He noted that the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) designation of the conference as a leading global platform reflects international confidence in the Kingdom's capabilities. The 2026 edition will focus intensively on exchanging innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency and promote environmental sustainability in light of the climate challenges facing the world, in addition to showcasing advanced air transport technologies.
Strategic goals and huge investment opportunities
The organization of this conference comes at a time when the Saudi aviation sector is witnessing historic transformations and rapid growth, driven by mega-projects such as the launch of "Riyadh Airlines" and the development of King Salman International Airport, with the aim of reaching 330 million passengers and connecting the Kingdom to 250 global destinations by 2030. Al-Duailij stressed that this year's edition will pay special attention to empowering the private sector, as it aims to attract investments exceeding $100 billion, which will directly contribute to creating thousands of quality job opportunities and supporting the non-oil GDP.
A broad international presence to shape the future
The conference is expected to see broad participation from over 120 countries, with more than 11,000 experts and specialists in the civil aviation industry in attendance. Participants will discuss ways to enhance international cooperation to address shared challenges and develop policies that support sustainable growth, in line with the objectives of the aviation program stemming from the Kingdom's Vision 2030, to solidify the Kingdom's position as a regional and international leader in this vital sector.
