The UAE has made it far quicker to register a domestic heliport. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has cut the processing time to two working days, down from up to 135 days, by replacing a certification requirement with a simplified registration system. The authority says the new framework is meant to reduce bureaucracy and support investment in the country’s vertical aviation sector, while keeping aviation safety standards firmly in place.
What Has Changed
Until now, every heliport in the UAE, including those used only for domestic operations, needed GCAA certification, a process that could take up to 135 days. Under the new rules, domestic heliports can be registered in as little as two working days. International heliports and facilities where certification is still necessary will continue to follow the existing certification framework.
Why The GCAA Made The Move
GCAA Director General Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi said the move reflects the maturity of the UAE’s aviation sector and confidence in a modern, risk-based approach to regulation. By cutting procedures significantly, he added, the country is creating an environment that is friendlier to investment and development without lowering safety standards.
The GCAA explained that the framework matches oversight to operational risk. That allows the authority to focus its resources on higher-risk areas while lowering the administrative load for lower-risk domestic operations. Aqeel Al Zarouni, assistant director general of the GCAA’s Aviation Safety Affairs Sector, said the change followed regulatory development and consultation with industry stakeholders.
The authority expects the move to encourage investment in vertical aviation infrastructure, support new aviation services and contribute to the UAE Government’s Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme.
Also Read: UAE: GACA Announces Air Taxis Can Use Existing Helipads, As Abu Dhabi Tests ‘Midnight’ Flying Taxis
What It Could Mean For Vertical Aviation
In practical terms, it could make it easier for operators to develop new heliport infrastructure across the country, which could in turn support new helicopter services and other forms of vertical aviation. For operators, that shortens the wait between planning a heliport and putting it to use. The announcement is about the approval process rather than any specific site, and no new projects have been named yet.
The change also fits a wider push around advanced air mobility. In April 2025, the GCAA granted design acceptance for the UAE’s first hybrid heliport at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, Zayed Port, built to handle both helicopters and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
In other aviation news, the GCAA has also announced that all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE are suspended from September 24 until further notice.
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FAQs
Why has the GCAA made the change?
To reduce bureaucracy and support investment in vertical aviation while maintaining safety standards.
Do international heliports get the same treatment?
No. They and other facilities where certification is still necessary follow the existing certification framework.