Business aviation services group Gama Group is expanding its services to Saudi Arabia through a new joint venture company with Imitiaz Co. of Jeddah. The partnership will be known as Gama Aviation and the plan is for it to be operational early next year at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport.

Gama Aviation will specialize in aircraft management and aims to operate charter services under its own Saudi GACA Part 135 air carrier certificate. The next step will be to add maintenance and consultancy services, replicating Gama’s services in Europe, the U.S. and the UAE.

Dave Edwards, Gama’s regional managing director, will oversee Gama Aviation in Saudi Arabia. “This is a significant milestone for Gama and is the culmination of a substantial period of planning and negotiation,” said Marwan Khalek, Gama CEO. “Breaking into the important Saudi market, the biggest market for business aviation in the Middle East, is a huge achievement and a long-held wish of Gama.”

Gama Aviation obtained its UAE GCAA air operator’s certificate in February 2010 and now supports a staff of 25 people and five managed aircraft at both Sharjah International and Dubai International airports, including a newly delivered Airbus ACJ318.

The UK-based company said it is on track to obtain its UAE GCAA CAR 145 maintenance approval and is working to complete a new hangar facility at Sharjah that will provide hangar space and maintenance facilities for business jets in the region. The facility also offer FBO services.