Jetex has agreed to open its first FBO in Saudi Arabia, finally unlocking the door to a market it has long wanted to enter and setting the stage for the expansion of aircraft ground handling provision in the country. The Dubai-based group has reached an agreement to develop and operate the FBO at Red Sea International Airport (OERS) on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, unlocking a market rich in opportunity but facing a stiff task to bring its substantial plans to fruition.

Adel Mardini, Jetex’s founder and CEO, signed the deal with the airport’s operator, DAA International, on Friday, with the support of Red Sea Global, the developer behind Saudi tourism destinations The Red Sea and Amaala.

Gulfstream Aerospace has had a presence in the Middle East for nearly 60 years, beginning with the GII jet, and there are now more than 120 Gulfstreams based there. President and CEO Mark Burns said the General Dynamics group company continues to see strong interest and robust demand in the region.

“The Gulfstream fleet in the Middle East has grown nearly 40% in the last decade, which means that more and more customers are operating our high-speed, long- and ultra-long-range aircraft, from the G650ER to the G500/600 and now G700 since its certification this past spring,” he told AIN ahead of the MEBAA 2024 show.

Charter broker and aviation consulting outfit MD Aviation has launched operations in Egypt and Jordan as the market for private aviation broadens and charter demand steadily increases in the Levant, the Gulf, and North Africa. The company was established in late 2023 by two experienced business aviation specialists, Jordanians Manal Obeid and Dima Elayyan, each with around two decades of experience.

“We are optimistic about the next 12 months, especially with the upcoming holiday season expected to drive growth in the charter market,” Elayyan told AIN. “As the region begins to stabilize after a period of unrest, we anticipate an uptick in demand for aviation services.”

Jet Aviation has introduced what it says is fully-customizable inflight entertainment and cabin management system software for VIP aircraft. The business aviation services group announced on Monday that has combined the new system with hardware provided by Creston Electronics and certified it for use on aircraft.

In another announcement made as the MEBAA show in Dubai was set to begin, Jet Aviation said its Jet Card pre-paid charter program is now available to customers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The program, which is already available in the U.S., includes set airport and "one-time" fees that don't vary according to each destination and seasonal demand.