Joby Aviation announced a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to deploy its electric air‑taxi service in the Kingdom. The MoU, signed on November 12, 2025, establishes a framework for localizing key manufacturing components and building a skilled workforce, positioning Saudi Arabia as a launch market alongside the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.
The agreement leverages the Federal Aviation Administration’s certification standards as the foundation for aircraft approval in Saudi Arabia, allowing Joby to use its existing FAA‑certified S4 platform to accelerate regulatory clearance. Management noted that the alignment with FAA standards reduces the time and cost of obtaining Saudi approvals, a critical factor for early‑stage commercial operations.
A central element of the MoU is a potential partnership with Abdul Latif Jameel, which could deliver up to 200 Joby aircraft and generate approximately $1 billion in revenue. The deal would provide a significant revenue stream and a large fleet deployment that could shorten Joby’s commercial launch timeline in the region. In addition, Joby announced a collaboration with Aloula Aviation, a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, to support operations and maintenance services, further embedding the company in the Kingdom’s aviation ecosystem.
Joby’s leadership emphasized that the MoU aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy and modernize infrastructure. CEO JoeBen Bevirt said the partnership “demonstrates our confidence in the Kingdom’s commitment to advanced air mobility and our ability to bring FAA‑certified technology to new markets.” GACA’s Executive Vice President of Aviation Safety, Captain Sulaiman bin Saleh Al‑Muhaimedi, highlighted the focus on building local talent and manufacturing capabilities, noting that the partnership will create jobs and technical expertise in the Kingdom.
The MoU also outlines a commercial launch timeline, with Joby targeting the first commercial passenger flights in Saudi Arabia by the third quarter of 2026. The timeline aligns with Joby’s broader global rollout plan, which includes commercial operations in the United States in 2025 and Dubai by 2026. The agreement’s localization plan specifies that key components such as the battery pack, propulsion system, and avionics will be assembled in Saudi Arabia, while final assembly will occur in the United States.
Analysts view the partnership as a strategic win for Joby, as it expands the company’s market reach and provides a diversified revenue base. The potential $1 billion deal with Abdul Latif Jameel represents a significant upside, while the Aloula Aviation collaboration strengthens operational support. The MoU also signals strong regulatory support, reducing the risk of delays that have plagued other eVTOL entrants.
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