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His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, affirmed that the decision by the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to establish the “Gulf Civil Aviation Authority”—announced during the 46th GCC Supreme Council session chaired by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in the Kingdom of Bahrain—represents a strategic milestone that reflects the Council’s commitment to unifying efforts and advancing the Gulf civil aviation system.

His Excellency explained that the creation of the Authority aims to drive legislative harmonization and unify the Gulf position in international forums related to civil aviation. This step is designed to keep pace with global developments, strengthen aviation safety and security, and enhance sustainability and competitiveness across the region’s aviation sector.

Al-Duailej noted that the establishment of the Authority is an extension of the GCC’s cooperative path in this vital sector. It marks a new phase of joint action and underscores the growing Gulf orientation toward building an integrated civil aviation model—ultimately leading to a unified air system that meets the needs of safe, reliable, and sustainable air transport.

He further highlighted that the new Authority seeks to achieve core objectives, foremost among them regulatory and supervisory harmonization to unify policies and systems, and to align national legislation within a unified Gulf framework. It also aims to improve service quality and passenger rights by streamlining travel procedures and coordinating efforts related to passenger protection. In addition, the Authority will support infrastructure development, encourage investment in airports and navigation systems, and leverage Gulf expertise while advancing training and qualification programs for national cadres—thereby strengthening the GCC’s competitiveness on the global stage.

The President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation emphasized that the establishment of the Gulf Civil Aviation Authority will reinforce the integration of efforts among GCC states in the field of civil aviation, contributing to the achievement of shared goals and consolidating the region’s position “as a global hub in the aviation industry.

It is noteworthy that the decision to establish the Authority was based on the recommendation of the 21st Executive Committee meeting for GCC civil aviation, hosted by the State of Kuwait on November 27, with the participation of all member states.