UAE introduces faster registration system for domestic heliports, replacing lengthy certification process.
Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s civil aviation authority has streamlined the registration process for domestic heliports, reducing approval time from as long as 135 days to just two working days and replacing the previous certification system with a simpler registration framework.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said the revised framework is designed to streamline procedures and encourage investment in the UAE’s vertical aviation sector without compromising established aviation safety standards.
Under the previous system, all heliports across the UAE, including those used for domestic operations, were required to obtain GCAA certification — a process that could take as long as 135 days to complete.
Under the revised rules, domestic heliports can complete registration with the authority in as little as two working days. International heliports, along with facilities that still require certification, will remain subject to the existing certification process.
GCAA Director General Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi said the shift from certification to registration for domestic heliports reflects the growing maturity of the UAE’s aviation sector and its move towards a modern, risk-based regulatory framework.
He said simplifying regulatory procedures would create a more supportive environment for investment and development in the sector, while ensuring that the UAE continues to maintain high aviation safety standards.
The GCAA said the revised framework takes operational risk into account, allowing the authority to direct more regulatory resources towards higher-risk activities while easing administrative requirements for lower-risk domestic operations.
Aqeel Al Zarouni, Assistant Director General of the GCAA’s Aviation Safety Affairs Sector, said the changes were introduced following regulatory development and consultations with aviation industry stakeholders.
He said cutting the approval process for domestic heliports from as long as 135 days to just two working days represents a significant improvement in government efficiency while preserving effective regulatory oversight.
According to the GCAA, the new system is expected to encourage investment in vertical aviation infrastructure, support the introduction of new aviation services and contribute to the UAE Government’s Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme.
The streamlined process could also make it easier for operators to establish new heliport infrastructure across the UAE, potentially facilitating the expansion of helicopter services and other forms of vertical aviation.
Separately, the GCAA has suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE from September 24 until further notice.
