Saudi Arabia’s aviation regulator, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), has announced a new agreement with Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) to speed up the launch of electric air taxis across the Kingdom. The agreement sees both parties collaborating to develop the necessary regulatory framework for introducing and scaling up eVTOL air taxi operations.

The new regulatory pathway will be based on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) certification ruleset. This ensures consistency in safety and operations and guarantees global interoperability for the aircraft. GACA intends to structure its pathway around the U.S. Department of Transportation’s eVTOL Implementation Pilot Program (eIPP). This strategic approach is designed to permit initial route testing and service introduction in major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah. It will also cover key large-scale developments such as Red Sea Global.

This collaboration supports GACA’s ongoing push to accelerate the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem. It aligns with the AAM Roadmap and the aviation sector’s goals within the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS). The initiative represents a clear move in the Kingdom’s wider programme to develop next generation air transport solutions. The announcement follows Archer’s recently established partnership with The Helicopter Company, a Public Investment Fund subsidiary, to commence eVTOL services with Red Sea Global.

GACA and Archer will also conduct a series of proof-of-concept demonstrations and experimental flights. These trials are intended to validate regulatory methods, assist with infrastructure development, and increase public enthusiasm for electric air taxi services.

Captain Sulaiman bin Saleh Al-Muhaimedi, Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability at GACA, said: “This MoU is an important step in advancing the Kingdom’s vision for Advanced Air Mobility. By working with global partners such as Archer, we continue to strengthen the regulatory and operational foundations needed to safely integrate eVTOL aircraft into our aviation system. The initiative supports the AAM Roadmap and reinforces the Kingdom’s position as a regional leader in next-generation air transport.”

Adam Goldstein, Archer founder and CEO, added: “Saudi Arabia is moving with impressive speed and clarity, and we are honored that GACA has chosen to collaborate with Archer in this effort. Aligning this certification work with the FAA and launching early demonstration operations in the Kingdom will help us bring this program to life safely and quickly. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with GACA to make the Kingdom one of the world’s first markets to embrace eVTOL aircraft at scale.”