Gulf States Plan Single Aviation Regulator to Harmonise Airspace and Safety Standards

GCC - The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) has announced plans for the establishment of a unified GCC Civil Aviation Authority, a regional regulatory body that will oversee civil aviation operations across all six member states under a single framework. The announcement was made on 3 December 2025 during the 46th GCC Summit in Bahrain by GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi.

• The new authority would be headquartered in the United Arab Emirates and would serve as the central regulatory and oversight body for the region’s more than 23 international airports and 17 national airlines.
• The initiative follows recommendations from the GCC Executive Committee for Civil Aviation, which earlier endorsed the formation of a unified authority, the development of a Unified Upper Airspace, and regional Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) initiatives.
• A single aviation regulator is expected to strengthen coordination across GCC airspace, reduce operational delays, and enhance air traffic safety and efficiency.

Source: Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf