Domestic heliport registration time cut to 48 hours under new GCAA framework

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has replaced the certification requirement for domestic heliports with a simplified registration system, reducing processing time from up to 135 days to two working days. International heliports and facilities where certification remains necessary will continue to follow the existing certification framework. The GCAA said the new framework aligns regulatory oversight with operational risk, allowing it to focus resources on higher-risk areas while reducing administrative requirements for lower-risk domestic operations. The change is expected to support investment in vertical aviation infrastructure, encourage new aviation services, and contribute to the UAE Government's Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme. GCAA Director General Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi said the transition reflects the maturity of the UAE's aviation sector and demonstrates confidence in a modern, risk-based regulatory approach.