Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), participated in the opening of the 11th Africa-Indian Ocean Region Aviation Week (AFI Aviation Week 2026) in Cairo, which continues through July 31. The event is jointly organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), with the participation of ministers, senior officials, and leaders from the international and regional aviation sectors.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the participation reaffirms the Kingdom's leading role in the civil aviation sector at the regional and international levels, as well as its continued commitment to strengthening joint action and building effective partnerships that contribute to achieving sustainable development goals and support the growth and prosperity of air transport.

During his address at the opening session, GACA Executive Vice President of Air Transport and International Cooperation Ali Mohammed Rajab stressed that the Kingdom views the countries of the Africa and Indian Ocean region as important strategic partners with which it shares deep-rooted historical and human ties and common interests that continue to expand. He noted that the development of air traffic reflects the strength of this partnership, with the Kingdom now connected to 34 destinations across the region. In 2025, more than 106,000 flights carried over 18 million passengers between the two sides.

The Kingdom's statement stressed that building a more prosperous future for civil aviation requires working in a spirit of partnership, exchanging expertise, building capacities, and enhancing compliance with international standards to keep pace with rapid transformations. It affirmed the Kingdom's continued support for the efforts of ICAO, AFCAC, and initiatives that promote safety, security, sustainability, and the development of human and institutional capacities.