UAE Cuts Domestic Heliport Registration Time From 135 Days to 48 Hours

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has introduced a new regulatory framework that cuts the processing time for registering domestic heliports from up to 135 days down to two working days (48 hours), Gulf News reported.

Under the revised rules, the prior requirement for full GCAA certification of all domestic heliports has been replaced by a simplified registration system. International heliports and other facilities requiring higher-level oversight will remain subject to the existing certification process.

The GCAA stated that the new framework aligns regulatory supervision with operational risk, directing oversight resources toward higher-risk sectors while easing administrative burdens for lower-risk domestic activities. The measure supports investment in vertical aviation infrastructure and aligns with the UAE Government's Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme.

GCAA Director General Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi stated that moving from certification to registration reflects the maturity of the UAE aviation sector and its shift toward a modern, risk-based regulatory framework. Eng. Aqeel Al Zarouni, Assistant Director General of the Aviation Safety Affairs Sector at the GCAA, confirmed that the regulatory change followed consultations with industry stakeholders.