UAE. The Dubai government yesterday announced a major overhaul of the civil aviation sector. The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) will replace the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), a statement said.
The DCA, which has operated Dubai International Airport for the last 47 years, will cease to exist.
The move comes amid the development of Jebel Ali Airport, which will cater to 130 million passengers a year, making it the world’s biggest greenfield airport development.
The government also revealed yesterday that it has set up the Dubai City of Aviation – an umbrella organisation that incorporates the Dubai Airports Company, Dubai World Central, Dubai Air Traffic Navigation and others – all aviation-related assets of Dubai.
“His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today issued a decree establishing the Dubai City of Aviation, comprising the Dubai Airports, Dubai World Central, and Dubai Air Traffic Navigation,” the statement said.
Leading local newspaper Gulf News said that the creation of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) will help bring transparency to the aviation industry, as the restructuring will separate regulatory and operational functions of the airport.
“This has long been expected. The Department of Civil Aviation, being the government authority, has also been the operator of the airport,” Robert Ziegler, Principal at A.T. Kearney (UAE) Limited, told Gulf News.
