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The Emirates News Agency reported that Saeed Mohammed Al Suwaidi secured election as first vice-president of the ICAO Council during its meeting in Montreal on October 21, 2025. The outcome came shortly after the United Arab Emirates won its seventh consecutive term on the 36-member governing body at the ICAO Assembly in September 2025. ICAO records place the UAE among states selected for geographic representation in the latest three-year cycle that runs through 2028. Officials described the vote as recognition of the UAE’s consistent contributions to international civil aviation policy development.
In remarks carried by the Emirates News Agency, Al Suwaidi said, “This election represents a great responsibility and an opportunity to further enhance the UAE’s presence within the Organisation and to support international efforts aimed at developing the civil aviation sector in accordance with the highest standards of efficiency and sustainability.” The permanent representative added that the result demonstrates international recognition of the UAE’s contributions to shaping global civil aviation policies. His comments underscored a commitment to advancing safety, security and environmental standards within the council’s work.
The director general of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority told the Emirates News Agency that the election also underscores the UAE’s commitment to strengthening its active participation within the ICAO Council and contributing more effectively to decisions that impact the global aviation sector. The statement aligned the development with the country’s forward-looking vision for international cooperation and leadership in the field. Such participation has marked UAE engagement since it first joined the council in 2007.
The ICAO Council functions as the permanent governing body of the International Civil Aviation Organization, which maintains 193 member states. An ICAO summary of the 2025 elections listed the UAE alongside other nations in the category ensuring geographic representation on the 36-seat panel. Council members address standards and recommended practices that govern international air navigation, safety protocols and sustainability measures across the industry.
A study released by the International Air Transport Association in April 2025 placed the total economic contribution of aviation and related tourism in the UAE at $92 billion for 2023. IATA figures show that amount equaled 18.2 percent of national GDP while supporting 992,000 jobs through direct airline employment, supply chains, employee spending and tourism activity. The association’s data highlighted 74,500 direct airline jobs and an additional 132,300 positions elsewhere in the aviation sector.
The UAE maintains the largest aviation market share in the Middle East at 45 percent, according to a ResearchGate analysis of sustainable aviation practices published in 2026. That position builds on major hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that facilitate both passenger and cargo flows across continents. Al Suwaidi, who earlier joined the Edward Warner Award Committee in March 2025, brings prior experience in aviation management to his new leadership post within the council.
