Saudi Arabia Overflight and Landing Permits

Saudi Arabia remains one of the most important destinations and overflight corridors for business aviation traffic within the Middle East. Whether your flight is a direct mission into Saudi Arabia or a transiting operation across its expansive airspace, understanding the permitting requirements is critical to mission success.

At MoonJet, we support business and private jet operators with seamless permit coordination, removing complexities and ensuring your operations are both compliant and efficient.

Here’s what you need to know when planning your next trip to or over Saudi Arabia:

Are Permits Required?

Yes. Both landing and overflight permits are mandatory for all private non-revenue and charter (non-scheduled commercial) flights operating to or across Saudi Arabian airspace. Permits are processed by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), also referred to as the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Overflight Permits

Overflight permits require detailed information of the aircraft, flight schedule, crew and passengers information, and the aircraft must be properly registered and insured.

• • Aircraft type, registration, and airworthiness documents
  • Airspeed, MTOW, and operator information
  • Full crew and passenger manifest
  • Flight schedule and routing FIR entry/exit points must be clearly defined

MoonJet monitors all regional FIRs and ensures permit accuracy according to GACA’s expectations.

Landing Permits

Like overflight permits landing permits require detailed information of the aircraft, schedule, manifest of crew and passengers. In addition the following information is required:

• • Local business sponsor details, including contact information
  • Designated ground handler at the intended airport

Important: For domestic legs within Saudi Arabia or operations to military airports, GACA requires additional steps. Military airfields require a separate Prior Permission Request (PPR) process after GACA approval.

For landing permits (except for tech stops), GACA requires that your local business sponsor confirms the details of your visit. If a sponsor is unresponsive or unfamiliar with the planned operation, the permit may be delayed or denied.

MoonJet ensures sponsor coordination is done in advance, confirming readiness and verifying that GACA has what it needs to issue timely clearance.

Lead Times and Processing Expectations

GACA officially requests:

• • 3 working days for both landing and overflight permits
  • Working week in Saudi Arabia: Sunday through Thursday

Short-notice permit requests may be processed faster in urgent situations within 24 hours, provided that all documents are correct and complete. MoonJet’s 24/7 operations team is available to expedite such requests whenever possible.

Restrictions and Airspace Considerations

When operating in Saudi Arabia, be mindful of key airspace restrictions, including:

• • No operations to/from Israel, and overflights involving Israeli routes require case-by-case approvals
  • No-fly zones are active over Mecca and other restricted areas
  • FIR overflights must follow designated airways, direct routings are rarely accepted.

Military and VIP Operations

Operations to military airports require special handling. In addition to the landing permit, a PPR must be submitted separately to the military air defense authority after GACA approval.

MoonJet supports operators with both civil and military coordination, especially for VIP and high-profile missions.

Permit Revisions and Changes

Any schedule, aircraft, route, or crew changes require a formal permit revision request. MoonJet ensures these are submitted in line with CAA expectations, minimizing the risk of denied entry or departure.

Common changes requiring updates:

• • ETD/ETA adjustments
  • Tail number changes
  • Updated crew or passenger manifests
  • Flight rerouting

Permit validity is generally +/- 24 hours from the approved date unless otherwise noted.

Why Choose MoonJet for Saudi Arabia Permits?

Operating to or over Saudi Arabia demands precision and local insight. With MoonJet, you benefit from:

• • A direct channel to GACA and trusted local partners
  • Accurate and fast document preparation
  • Sponsor and handler coordination
  • Real-time permit monitoring and revisions
  • 24/7 operations support for urgent changes

Whether it’s a tech stop, VIP mission, or complex multi-leg route through the region, MoonJet provides the confidence and clarity you need to operate without delays.

Saudi Arabia overflight and landing permits are manageable, but only if approached with experience and proper planning. At MoonJet, we simplify the complexities of Saudi operations, helping our clients maintain mission readiness while staying compliant with evolving regulations.

Contact our operations team today to plan your next mission through Saudi Arabia with peace of mind and complete support from start to finish.