42 Projects in Operations and Technology Sectors
The aviation sector in the United Arab Emirates continues to establish itself as a key pillar of the national economy and a leading global model in governance, innovation, and sustainability. This progress is driven by a vision led by the General Civil Aviation Authority, integrating regulatory policies, advanced infrastructure, international partnerships, and the development of national competencies.
In 2025, the sector witnessed a series of significant achievements that reinforced its role in boosting the competitiveness of the national economy while supporting vital sectors such as trade, tourism, logistics services, and supply chains, contributing both directly and indirectly up to 18% of the gross domestic product.
In January 2025, the General Civil Aviation Authority launched a unified national platform for unmanned aerial vehicles. This interactive digital platform aims to regulate and register drone operations, outline their usage requirements, and ensure compliance with laws and procedures that ensure the safety of individuals and property.
Regarding environmental sustainability, the authority continued to lead in this domain by delivering the third version of the national plan to reduce emissions in the aviation sector to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after its approval by the Cabinet.
The plan includes 42 initiatives in operations and technology, alongside 13 projects focused on sustainable aviation fuel and low-carbon fuels, developed in collaboration with leading national ministries, aviation companies, airports, and energy institutions.
The UAE has enhanced its influential presence in the global civil aviation framework by winning a seat on the ICAO Council for the seventh consecutive time. Additionally, ICAO re-elected Hamad Salem Al-Muhairi, the Assistant Director General for Aviation Security Affairs at the General Civil Aviation Authority, as the President of the ICAO Civil Aviation Security Experts Committee for a third term.
Engineer Mariam Al-Balooshi, the Senior Director of the Environmental Affairs Office at the General Civil Aviation Authority, was elected as the President of the ICAO Committee on Environmental Protection, making her the first specialist from the Middle East to hold this position.
During its 235th session, the ICAO Council approved the UAE’s initiative for a “Global Sustainable Aviation Market (GSAM)” as an official annual event on the organization’s agenda, thereby developing this initiative from a strategic vision into an international event supported organizationally and administratively by ICAO.
UAE airports achieved record performance results in passenger numbers during the first nine months of 2025, with Abu Dhabi, Dubai International, and Sharjah International airports recording approximately 108.59 million passengers by the end of September.