Vertical Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support the development of the regulatory and operational framework required for the introduction of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in the country.
Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, the agreement marks a significant step towards preparing Saudi Arabia’s aviation ecosystem for the safe integration of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft while strengthening collaboration between industry and regulators on next-generation aviation technologies.
Under the MoU, Vertical Aerospace and GACA will work together to support the validation of the Valo eVTOL aircraft’s type certification in Saudi Arabia and explore the development of regulatory frameworks governing future electric aircraft operations. The partnership also aims to help establish the operational, safety and certification standards required before commercial eVTOL services can be introduced in the Kingdom.
A key element of the collaboration will involve the exchange of technical expertise and certification best practices with leading international aviation authorities. The initiative is intended to promote globally harmonised certification approaches for electric aircraft, supporting the wider adoption of Advanced Air Mobility worldwide.
The signing ceremony was attended by Gemma Stevenson, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan, highlighting the growing cooperation between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia in advancing future aviation technologies.
In a parallel development, Vertical Aerospace also signed a separate Memorandum of Understanding with Cluster2 Airports Company, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading airport operators. The agreement establishes a framework for evaluating the future deployment of Vertical’s eVTOL aircraft across Cluster2’s airport network while assessing the infrastructure and operational requirements needed to support commercial Advanced Air Mobility services within the Kingdom.
Michael Cervenka, Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer at Vertical Aerospace, said Saudi Arabia’s ambitious aviation vision makes it an important partner in the development of electric flight. “Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a bold vision for the future of aviation and transportation, and we are excited to work alongside GACA. Together, we have an opportunity to establish a framework that enables safe, scalable and commercially viable Advanced Air Mobility,” Cervenka said.
Capt. Sulaiman Saleh Almuhaimedi, Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability at GACA, said the partnership would help build the regulatory foundation necessary for next-generation aircraft operations.
“By working with Vertical Aerospace, GACA aims to strengthen its regulatory capabilities, certification expertise and operational framework to safely introduce Advanced Air Mobility into the Kingdom and support the next generation of aviation,” Almuhaimedi said.
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The agreement further expands Vertical Aerospace’s global network of partnerships with aviation regulators, governments, airlines, airport operators and aerospace companies as it prepares the Valo aircraft for commercial entry into service.
Beyond certification, the collaboration also has important implications for the aviation aftermarket. As eVTOL aircraft move closer to commercial operations, countries will need to establish specialised maintenance standards, technician training programmes, spare parts supply chains and OEM-certified support infrastructure. By working with regulators at an early stage, Vertical Aerospace and GACA are helping lay the groundwork not only for the safe introduction of electric aircraft but also for the long-term development of a sustainable maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) ecosystem to support the emerging Advanced Air Mobility sector.
