Throughout the years, the State of Qatar has made it a priority to build a safe, efficient, secure, and sustainable civil aviation sector that continues to thrive and prosper. We’ve achieved many milestones in the civil aviation sector because we set goals and worked vigorously to meet them. Our national airline and principal state-of-the-art airport are each consistently rated as among the best in the world. We are committed to having a positive impact on aviation in the region and globally.
As a prominent member of ICAO and the international civil aviation community, Qatar is committed to ICAO’s mission and strategic objectives to ensure the safe, secure, efficient and sustainable development of international civil aviation. We are also committed to an air transport network that operates without discrimination, offering equal opportunities and economic and sound operations.
We have actively embraced a number of ICAO initiatives, including No Country Left Behind (NCLB). The NCLB initiative is in line with Qatar’s vision for civil aviation, which is to see that all States and civil aviation sectors flourish and that ICAO’s Standards, Recommended Practices and policies are fully implemented. Every State, regardless of its size or level of resources, can harness the full potential that civil aviation offers.
Qatar strongly believes in the transformative power of aviation for global connectivity, economic growth and significant social benefits, as well as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this regard, Qatar plays a vital role in achieving this vision by sharing expertise, providing training, and assisting in capacity building, as well as providing other forms of assistance to fellow ICAO Member States.
As a Member of the ICAO Council, we recognize and appreciate the trust placed in Qatar by ICAO Member States to be part of the collaborative efforts to govern international civil aviation. Not only do we bring a wealth of experience and a forward-looking perspective, but we also bring our commitment to significantly contributing to global civil aviation, fostering international cooperation amongst Member States, and keeping the skies a safe place for all.
Qatar actively engages in policy formulation and advocacy for safe, secure, accessible, efficient, and environmentally sound civil aviation, within a framework of cooperation with other States. Through these efforts, Qatar contributes significantly to the advancement of global civil aviation, ensuring that ICAO standards are upheld.
Simultaneously, Qatar has certain expectations for ICAO. In addition to the work associated with achieving ICAO’s Strategic Objectives, Qatar strongly supports the new cross-cutting transformational objectives that will orient ICAO’s work to address change management improvements and innovative initiatives within the organization.
These improvements will lead to an ICAO that is better able to support Member States. In aviation’s fast and ever-changing landscape, it is important that ICAO stays agile to respond to the evolving needs of the aviation industry, adapt to changing circumstances and take advantage of new operational and technical innovations and developments, ensuring that its policies and programmes remain relevant and impactful.
ICAO’s work and support should aim to best meet the needs of Member States. In this regard, it is important to emphasize the role of ICAO’s Regional Offices in line with the One-ICAO approach. Qatar underscores the importance of Regional Offices who are at the forefront of ICAO’s cooperation with States. These offices, when empowered with appropriate resources, can help States to effectively address specific challenges faced in individual regions.
Through active collaboration and open dialogue, Qatar will continue to support ICAO and its Member States in transforming ICAO into an organization that not only sets standards but also empowers and enables the Member States to implement them to the benefit of the entire world community. By working closely with other States, Qatar strongly believes that it can contribute to finding solutions to the myriad of challenges facing aviation in the years to come and to ensure that no county is left behind.
About the author
Essa Al-Malki served as the first Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to ICAO from June 2017 until October 2022, when Qatar received a permanent seat on the ICAO Council. Prior to his assignments to ICAO, he served in a number of senior roles at the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority as a legal expert, before assuming the position of Head of the Agreement and International Affairs Section. During this time, Mr. Al-Malki was responsible for the negotiation of air services agreements between Qatar and other States.
