Air Arabia’s consortium has secured an Air Operator Certificate from Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation regulator, clearing the final major regulatory hurdle for a new low-cost carrier based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The approval formally advances a project led by Air Arabia Group with Nesma Group and KUN Holding, positioning the airline for domestic and international operations from Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation said the consortium completed the required technical, regulatory and operational procedures, including safety, security and quality standards. The carrier was selected in July 2025 to establish and operate the airline, which is expected to strengthen competition and improve connectivity in the Eastern Province. Authorities have also linked the project to wider transport, trade and tourism goals, as well as local job creation.
GACA has previously indicated the airline is intended to serve 24 domestic and 57 international destinations and carry about 10 million passengers a year by 2030. The latest approval moves the project from selection to certification, although the start date for commercial operations has not been disclosed.