GCC Announces Unified Civil Aviation Authority

The Gulf Cooperation Council has taken a significant step towards regional aviation integration with the announcement of a unified GCC Civil Aviation Authority, headquartered in the UAE.

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi unveiled the decision on Wednesday during the 46th GCC Summit in Bahrain, marking what could become a transformative shift for one of the world's most dynamic aviation markets.

The move follows recommendations from the GCC Executive Committee for Civil Aviation in Kuwait City, where proposals for a single authority, Unified Upper Airspace, and Advanced Air Mobility projects were put forward for endorsement by the GCC Supreme Council.

The announcement arrives at a moment when regulatory harmonisation has become a pressing industry concern. At EATS 2025 in Cascais just weeks ago, delegates spent considerable time addressing the challenges and necessity of harmonising global and European regulations to incorporate new training technologies and methodologies effectively. 

Significantly, Gulf States have been progressively aligning with EASA standards in recent years, a development that has already eased operations for training organisations and operators working across both European and Middle Eastern markets. A unified GCC authority building on this EASA foundation could represent a substantial step forward in reducing regulatory complexity.

The scale of the opportunity is considerable. GCC countries host more than 23 international airports and operate 17 national airlines, six of which rank among the world's top 50 carriers for 2024. Combined, GCC airlines carried around 68 million passengers in 2023, underscoring the region's significance in global aviation.

The timing of the GCC announcement is particularly relevant for aviation training providers. The progressive EASA alignment across Gulf States has already created a more consistent regulatory environment, and a unified GCC authority could extend this further. For training organisations developing new simulation technologies, competency-based assessment tools, or immersive learning platforms, all areas that require regulatory approval, a single authority could significantly accelerate adoption across the region.

No specific timeline has been publicly confirmed for the Supreme Council's formal decision or the full operational rollout of the unified authority. However, the announcement signals clear intent from member states to deepen aviation cooperation across the region.

The establishment of a single GCC aviation authority represents the kind of regulatory harmonisation that other regional blocs have pursued with varying degrees of success. For the Gulf region, with its concentration of major international carriers and rapidly expanding airport infrastructure, the potential impact on operational efficiency and market development could be substantial.