GCC Executive Committee recommends establishing unified civil aviation authority

KUWAIT, Nov 27 (KUNA) -- Chief of the Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Al-Sabah said on Thursday that the GCC Executive Committee for Civil Aviation has recommended approving the establishment of a unified GCC Civil Aviation Authority, with the decision to be submitted to the GCC Supreme Council for endorsement.
This came in a statement made by Sheikh Humoud Al-Sabah to KUNA during the 21st meeting of the GCC Executive Committee for Civil Aviation, currently held in Kuwait.
In his opening remarks, Sheikh Humoud Al-Sabah emphasized the importance of strengthening joint GCC cooperation in the field of civil aviation and deepening integration among its authorities to advance the sector and ensure the highest standards of safety and security.
He added that adapting artificial intelligence and digital technologies has become a pivotal factor in developing the air transport system by improving procedural efficiency, facilitating passenger flow, and enhancing safety and quality standards across all stages of travel.
He noted that this requires issuing legislation and unifying operating systems across GCC states in line with the high directives of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Sheikh Humoud also congratulated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the State of Qatar on winning seats on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for the years 2025-2027.
He extended congratulations as well to the Sultanate of Oman for being endorsed to preside over the 42nd session of the ICAO Assembly, and to the Kingdom of Bahrain for receiving the ICAO Council Presidentآ’s Award in recognition of its excellence in civil aviation security.
Furthermore, he added that Kuwait successfully passed the ICAO security audit with a score exceeding both regional and global averages, and received the ICAO Council Presidentآ’s Award for excellence in aviation security.
He pointed out that GCC countries have witnessed, during the current time, numerous events, conferences, and exhibitions reflecting the regionآ’s growing interest in the aviation sector.
For his part, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs of the GCC Khalid Al-Sanidi, stated that the civil aviation sector in GCC countries has undergone significant development in recent years in infrastructure, legislation, services, and smart technologies.
Al-Sanidi noted that GCC countries today host more than 23 international airports and operate 17 national airlines, six of which are ranked among the top 50 airlines worldwide for 2024. The number of passengers carried by GCC airlines reached around 68 million in 2023.
He added that the General Secretariat is keen on coordinating GCC positions in international forums and organizations, foremost among them the International Civil Aviation Organization, to strengthens the presence and influence of GCC states in shaping global aviation policies.
The meeting also discusses determining aviation-related events and activities for member states for the year 2026, exploring avenues of cooperation with the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), and reviewing several other matters that will, God willing, contribute to enhancing joint cooperation and integration in the field of civil aviation. (end) ahs