The agreement, which supports Vertical's strategy of working alongside regulators worldwide, will explore ways to support validation of Vertical's Valo aircraft type certification, support the development of regulatory frameworks for future electric aircraft operations, and prepare Saudi Arabia's aviation ecosystem for the safe introduction of eVTOL aircraft.

Another key component of the collaboration will be the exchange of technical knowledge and certification best practices with leading international aviation authorities. This is intended to help accelerate the development of globally coordinated approaches to electric aviation certification.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Gemma Stevenson, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan, underscoring the strength of the UK-Saudi partnership and the shared ambition to advance future aviation technologies.

Alongside this agreement, a separate MoU was signed between Vertical and Cluster2 Airports Company, a leading Saudi airport operator, at the Farnborough International Airshow on Monday 20 July 2026. The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation to explore, assess, and prepare for the development of eVTOL aircraft operations within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including evaluating the potential deployment of Vertical aircraft across Cluster2 Airports’ network.