Introduction Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is evolving quickly from an experimental concept to having real-world applications. Enabled by electric propulsion, vertical take-off and landing systems and digital airspace management, among other innovations, AAM offers new alternatives for transporting people and goods. According to the IMARC Group, as of 2024, the global AAM market size was valued at $9.9 billion, with estimates that the market will reach $77.03 billion by 2033, reflecting a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.6% from 2025 to 2033.2 As momentum continues to build, many countries are incorporating AAM into their national transportation and innovation strategies. For example, five leading aviation regulators (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States) are collaborating on a shared roadmap for the efficient certification of AAM aircraft.3 In the context of Saudi Arabia, AAM provides a strategic opportunity to strengthen transportation systems and drive economic diversification, directly supporting the goals of Vision 2030 to build a thriving economy, enhance quality of life and position the Kingdom as a global hub for innovation.4 Saudi Arabia is shaping its own AAM network through practical, early-stage use cases. These efforts are designed to clarify regulatory priorities, test operational feasibility and demonstrate tangible public value, and, in doing so, lay the foundations for advancing adoption. This paper has the following prime objectives: –Articulate the strategic factors that uniquely position Saudi Arabia as a frontrunner in AAM adoption –Demonstrate how early use cases are already delivering tangible impact across key sectors –Extract achievable enablers and insights to support a national rollout and industry growthStrategic national foundations for AAM implementation in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia’s rapid urbanization, expanding population and ambitious tourism and logistics plans under Vision 20305,6,7,8 are creating new mobility demands that could benefit from novel modes of transport. AAM offers a potential solution, enabling faster, more sustainable connectivity across cities, industrial hubs and giga-projects. If successfully deployed, AAM could generate up to $38 billion in economic opportunities by 2040, spanning infrastructure, manufacturing, air traffic management and operations.9 To capture this potential, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has developed a dedicated AAM roadmap10 in collaboration with leading stakeholders, including regulators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), infrastructure developers, academic institutions and prospective operators. The roadmap outlines a set of national enablers spanning regulation, infrastructure technology and cross-sector collaboration that provide the strategic foundations needed to move from ambition to deployment-ready mobility. These enablers ensure that early pilot projects can generate real-world lessons and, critically, be scaled into investable and sustainable AAM services. Together, these developments prepare Saudi Arabia for operational deployment and align directly with the broader aspiration of Vision 2030. Figure 1 highlights the pivotal role of GACA in shaping initiatives (under the roadmap), illustrating their impacts and alignment with Vision 2030 pillars.From initiatives to actions to impact, Saudi Arabia is building an AAM network that advances its Vision 2030 ambitions. Deployment Pathways for Advanced Air Mobility: Lessons from Early Implementation in Saudi Arabia 5

Deployment Pathways Advanced Air Mobility 2025