Kuwait city: Chief of the Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority, Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Al-Sabah, announced that the GCC Executive Committee for Civil Aviation has advised the creation of a unified GCC Civil Aviation Authority. This recommendation is set to be presented to the GCC Supreme Council for approval.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Sheikh Humoud Al-Sabah made this statement during the 21st meeting of the GCC Executive Committee for Civil Aviation held in Kuwait. In his opening remarks, Sheikh Humoud Al-Sabah stressed the significance of bolstering joint GCC cooperation in civil aviation, aiming to enhance sector integration and maintain safety and security standards.
He emphasized that the incorporation of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is crucial for advancing the air transport system by improving efficiency, facilitating passenger movement, and boosting safety and quality standards. This necessitates the issuance of legislation and the unification of operating systems across GCC nations in accordance with the directives of Gulf Cooperation Council leaders.
Sheikh Humoud also extended congratulations to several GCC countries for recent achievements. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar secured seats on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council for 2025-2027. Oman was endorsed to lead the 42nd session of the ICAO Assembly, while Bahrain received the ICAO Council President's Award for excellence in civil aviation security. Kuwait also excelled, surpassing regional and global averages in the ICAO security audit and earning the ICAO Council President's Award for aviation security excellence.
He noted the region's burgeoning interest in aviation, as evidenced by numerous events, conferences, and exhibitions. Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs of the GCC, Khalid Al-Sanidi, highlighted the civil aviation sector's growth in infrastructure, legislation, services, and technologies. GCC nations now host over 23 international airports and operate 17 national airlines, with six ranked among the top 50 worldwide for 2024. In 2023, GCC airlines carried approximately 68 million passengers.
Al-Sanidi mentioned the General Secretariat's commitment to coordinating GCC positions in international forums, particularly within ICAO, to enhance the influence of GCC states in forming global aviation policies. The meeting also addressed aviation-related events for 2026, potential cooperation with the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), and other matters aimed at improving cooperation and integration in civil aviation.