It was established in 1934 as the Civil Aviation Administration (Arabic: إدارة الطيران المدني) to oversee the air traffic control of Saudi Arabia.

The GACA emerged from the Presidency of Civil Aviation (PCA; مصلحة الطيران المدني) that was created when the institution controlling aviation was split into a civil department and the Royal Saudi Air Force.

[1] The Presidency of Civil Aviation was among others also in charge of the Saudi Arabian Airlines and the Meteorology Department.

The Saudi Arabian Airlines was split from the Presidency of Civil Aviation in 1960 and became an independent public institution in 1963.

[1] In late December 2011 the GACA was separated from the ministry of defence and was attached directly to King Abdullah.