The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) celebrated the UAE Civil Aviation Day, which was inaugurated on October 5th 2014, as part of the UAE’s efforts to elevate awareness around the Aviation sector amongst both nationals and non-nationals in UAE.
In coordination with partners and stakeholders in the industry, such as ICAO, UAE Airlines, UAE Airports, PMO and DGMO, the GCAA is celebrating the occasion through numerous events and initiatives that showcase the concerted and coordinated efforts by the aviation industry in the past decades which have resulted in this remarkable progress.
The day marks the progress and achievements of the aviation sector, celebrating the history of aviation in the UAE, as well as looking to the future of the industry. The celebration also highlights the achievements and joint efforts of numerous different stakeholders in the industry to make it the success story it is today.
From the first commercial flight arriving in the UAE in October 1932 from Pakistan, UAE aviation has flourished and the sector now employs almost 500,000 people (both directly and indirectly) and contributes approximately AED169 billion (US$46 billion) equivalent to 15% of the GDP of the country.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Chairman, Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: “Aviation is a major contributor to the UAE’s economic prosperity. We are fortunate to have visionary leaders that recognize the many benefits aviation brings and we continue to invest in infrastructure, innovative products and experiences to maintain our position as a leading aviation hub. At the same time we also play an active role in collaboration with international organizations to shape the future of aviation. I am confident of the prospects for the UAE’s aviation sector, and its continued importance as a pillar for our country’s growth and competitiveness, charting a positive course for future generations.”
Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority said: “We are very proud of our achievements to date in the UAE, as the industry has grown from very humble beginnings to becoming a major strength for the UAE at a regional and global level. We have two of the largest international carriers in the world as well as flagship low cost airlines that are breaking new ground all the time. At the same time as serving our domestic economy by connecting it to all corners of the world our primary focus is safety and security for all those operating and travelling through our airports. We continually strive to reach the highest global standards to ensure that passengers and operators alike can continue to travel in safety.”
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of UAE GCAA said: “We have much to be proud of as a nation and as an industry; from humble beginnings the UAE has become one of biggest passenger hubs in the world. Our airports and airlines are consistently ranked among the best internationally and the UAE is ranked as the top ICAO member state in compliance level with ICAO requirements under the USOAP Program. The future of the sector is also bright, the current development projects and expansion of the country’s airports will accelerate growth in the aviation industry over the next few years.”
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports said: “Dubai Airports recently marked 57 years of operations at Dubai International and reached the impressive figure of over 830 million passengers being welcomed through the years. If this wasn’t enough to commemorate, 2017 also gave us three months where our passenger figures exceeded 8 million. Sustaining this growth and building for the future is our next priority and with the innovative vision of the rulers of the country.”
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “As the UAE’s national airline, Etihad Airways is proud to celebrate UAE Civil Aviation Day with our colleagues and partners from across the field of aviation. The UAE stands at the forefront of the global civil aviation industry - with our world class airlines, airports and infrastructure - and we are very happy to mark these achievements today.”
