Rasha Tabila (Abu Dhabi)
In the last two decades, the UAE aviation sector has knocked the doors of the world and was able to positively influence the governments and peoples of countries through a superior global reputation in terms of huge infrastructure, international airports that recorded pioneering results, and national carriers owning fleets that are the latest in the year and services considered the best, and a major role In the international organizations specialized in aviation, and leadership ranks in various fields, which made it today a role model.
During the era of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, the sector went global, by building the foundations of a sustainable aviation system, so that the aviation sector continues to play an active role in the present and the future. Innovation and artificial intelligence are key to the sector’s sustainability, according to the expectations of aviation organizations Globally, the UAE aviation sector will contribute significantly to the country’s economy and job opportunities. The air transport sector contributes a large proportion to the economy, as it is one of the main strategic assets in the country.
Today, the sector supports nearly 800,000 jobs and pumps $47.4 billion into the UAE economy, constituting 13.3% of the UAE’s GDP. The UAE aviation market is expected to grow by 170 percent in 2037, supporting 1.4 million jobs, and contributing $128 billion. in the country’s economy.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, described the sector during the era of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may he rest in peace, as “global leadership and sustainable growth.”
Al-Suwaidi confirmed to Al-Ittihad that the growth process in the civil aviation sector in the UAE, during the past twenty years, witnessed a qualitative leap and global leadership, and became a model that countries aspire to apply and benefit from, and the UAE aviation sector has become one of the most important influencers in the global civil aviation market in the era of The late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, as the sector contributed during the past era in supporting the basic pillars of the national economy and contributed to approximately 13% of the gross domestic product, and contributed to providing more than 800,000 jobs, to enhance the growth and development process of the UAE ».
Al Suwaidi said, “The aviation sector flourished during the era of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and it showed a great transformation at the level of industry, growth and competitiveness, as the infrastructure of the country’s airports witnessed a great development and expansion in accommodating flights, with investments amounting to tens of billions, so that the state became a link to the world, And the country’s airports have taken a prominent position in the world.”
He added, “Dubai International Airport has achieved a rating that places it on the list of the busiest airports, and our national carriers have become strongly present in the first positions in many international classifications, and efforts to develop the sector’s infrastructure and major investments in it have contributed to the country’s ranking second in the world in the competitive index of infrastructure.” Infrastructure in air transport issued by the World Economic Forum.
“Our country has become the first in the number of air transport agreements, and the first in adhering to international security and safety standards, as well as attracting and establishing many providers of air navigation, maintenance, manufacturing and training services,” he said. He added, “The country’s strategic location has also played an active role in supporting the rapid growth of the aviation sector, and the country’s airports have turned into a major link between the east and the west and between the north and south.” Al-Suwaidi stressed that “the increasing growth of the sector during the past ten years puts us in front of one of the best transformation experiences at the state level. Air traffic grew to a daily rate of 2,500 daily movements, at its highest rate during 2017, after it was close to 1,000 movements per day in 2005.”
number of passengers
He added, “The number of passengers has also doubled dramatically in the country’s various airports, from 17 million passengers in 2003 to more than 127 million passengers in 2019, while the volume of air freight reached nearly 4 million tons in air cargo operations, which put our country in the Regional leadership in freight and the number of passengers. Al-Suwaidi stressed that “if the sector in the past era witnessed the era of empowerment, then we are on the threshold of the golden stage, which, although punctuated by many challenges, will witness major leaps, God willing, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him.” .
Fleet size
The UAE aviation sector currently serves a fleet of more than 500 aircraft, and in 2019, the country’s airports received 127 million passengers, according to data from the General Civil Aviation Authority, while about a decade ago it received about 79 million passengers in 2012, which confirms the significant growth that The sector witnesses annually, and the value of the UAE’s investments in the aviation sector amounted to about $270 billion, and it has developed international airports with billions of investments to compete with the oldest and largest international airports in the world.
Regarding the UAE’s role at the global level, it won membership in the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for the fifth time in September 2019, as it is one of the active members of the organization, as it implemented a number of initiatives in cooperation with the Council of the Organization on previous occasions, including support in assistance missions for “Covid-19”, and bilateral cooperation in the new Global Aviation Award program.
Abu Dhabi Airport
During the era of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, the modern Abu Dhabi International Airport was opened in 2006, and it is operated by Abu Dhabi Airports. At a time when Dubai International Airport was able to be the first in the world in passenger traffic for the eighth time, as it retained during 2021, and for the eighth year in a row, its first position at the forefront of the busiest international airports around the world, according to the annual report issued by the Airports World Council, and also Etihad Airways’ air operations began in November 2003.
Despite the “Corona” pandemic and its impact on the sector, the number of UAE national carriers increased from 4 national carriers to 6 national carriers, as two new national carriers were launched along with “Emirates Airlines”, “Etihad Airways”, “Air Arabia” and “Fly Dubai”. These are Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi.
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