The Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates generously hosted the Sixth Meeting of the Directors General of Civil Aviation-Middle East Region to follow up on action items from previous meetings and discuss global and regional developments. The meeting, which took place from 1 to 3 November 2022, was opened by Mr. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of General Civil Aviation Authority, UAE who extended a warm welcome to all Delegates to DGCA-MID 6 meeting.
“This meeting is taking place in a distinguished year, of special importance to us due to its coincidence with the 50th anniversary of the UAE promulgation of the Chicago Convention” as highlighted by Mr. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi.
Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General addressed participants through a recorded video expressing his deep appreciation for UAE for hosting this important meeting.
“ICAO remains extremely grateful for the dedication of our Member States and all of your future objectives together will rely on our continuing, and very successful, collaboration.” He went on to reflect on the priorities resulting from the ICAO 41st Assembly, one of the most important outputs is the adoption of the Long Term Global Aspirational Goal for international aviation of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Mr. Mohamed Abu Baker, Regional Director of ICAO MID Office, welcomed all participants and thanked GCAA for hosting, organizing the meeting and the generous hospitality. “I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the United Arab Emirates represented by H.E. Minister of Economy and H.E. DG of GCAA” highlighted by Mr. Mohamed Abu Baker.
He also extended his sincere congratulations to the countries of the region (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE) for being elected to the ICAO Council. “We are sure these countries will contribute to the development and support of the ICAO Council in general and the countries of the region in particular” as mentioned by ICAO MID RD.
During the Opening Ceremony of the meeting, the DG of Sudan, Mr. Fakhreldin Osman Ahmed Mehadi and Mr. Mohamed Abu Bakr Farea (on behalf of the ICAO Secretary General) signed the Management Service Agreement (MSA) between the Sudan CAA and ICAO, which reflects the continuous cooperation between ICAO and Member States for the benefit of the civil aviation all over the globe.
Throughout the meeting, the Director Generals/Heads of Delegations in their welcoming remarks commended the Regional Director of the ICAO MID Office for his leadership and the remarkable positive change, which was clearly noticed through the last period, and continuous promising future.
Everyone expressed their appreciation for the ongoing efforts and collaboration of the ICAO MID Office with States, and thanked UAE for hosting the DGCA-MID/6 meeting in Abu Dhabi, and for the warm welcome and outstanding hospitality and arrangements. In his remarks, Mr. Ab-dulaziz A. Al-Duailaj, President of GACA, reconfirmed Saudi Arabia’s offer to host the DGCA-MID/7 meeting in 2024.
The meeting was attended by a total of Ninety Five (95) participants from twelve (12) MID States (Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yem-en), three (3) Observer States (Palestine, United Kingdom, United States) and nine (9) International/Regional Organizations (AACO, ACAO, ACI, Airbus, Boeing, EASA, IATA, IFALPA and IFAIMA).
For more information on this event, visit the event website here.