Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have agreed to establish a joint Civil Aviation Authority, selecting the UAE as its headquarters to strengthen coordination across one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation regions, according to UAE’s state news agency WAM.

The decision, endorsed by the GCC Supreme Council, aims to harmonise regulatory frameworks, enhance safety, and boost the bloc’s competitiveness as Gulf carriers expand globally and member states pursue economic integration, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said in a statement.

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and GCAA chairman, described the move as “a pivotal milestone” for Gulf cooperation. Hosting the headquarters, he said, would reinforce the UAE’s global aviation role and support regional efforts to unify standards across trade, tourism, and transport.

GCAA Director General Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi said the authority would usher in “a new phase of Gulf coordination,” reflecting confidence in the UAE’s regulatory capabilities.

The authority is expected to align legislation, enhance safety and security oversight, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen the Gulf’s influence in international aviation forums, keeping pace with rapid technological developments in the sector.