Leadership & Competitiveness of

the Aviation Sector in Ras Al Khaimah

RAK Chamber of Commerce and Industry:
General Supervision:

• Assistant General Manager, Support and Institutional Services Sector

Eiman Darwish Al Hayyas
•Business Development and Director of Investment Promotion Department
Emad Aldin Oberi
• Coordinator of Competitive Division
Mrs. Fetouh Mohamed BahlooK
 Index

1 Introduction

2 Strategic Objectives and Vision

5 Competitiveness & Leadership of the Civil Aviation

8 Rapid Developments and Proactive Achievements

10 Governmental laws and Regulations

11 Strategic Partnership and Agreements

18 The success story of the initiative, work from home program

20 The Future plans of the Department of Civil Aviation in the Emirate

21 The Future Outlook of Civil Aviation in the United Arab Emirates

 Introduction

The civil aviation sector is witnessing spectacular developments at all levels, both in terms of airports
infrastructure development, means of logistics, general aviation, air navigation, safety, security and
massive contribution in the global economy.

The aviation sector growth in United Arab Emirates is expected to create almost a million jobs with the
Expo 2021 right around the corner.

The United Arab Emirates has a strategic geographical location that plays an active role in increasing
the Gross Domestic Product. As, the aviation industry is a non-oil sector, its importance is increasing
for economic diversification and job creation, as the UAE airports have become a major link for all
parts of the world, with a population of more than seven billion people living within 8-hour distance.
The Arab gulf region facilitates these massive movements through the UAE and the Gulf countries due
to national carriers providing competitive prices and high levels of service.

In addition, the growth of the UAE foreign trade, is developing due to the air transport industry which
is on the verge of a new era that will add much to economic diversification, labor employment while
cementing the economic and commercial position of the United Arab Emirates globally. Air freight
operations by national carriers has created major re-export trading centers between different countries
of the world.

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 Strategic Objectives and Vision

Institutional values
• Security and safety

• Sustainable Development

• Integrity

• Customers Happiness

COMPETENCY
Supervision Role
• To supervise the Civil Aviation and to regulate its affairs in the Emirate in accordance with the Federal Law

No. (20) of 1991.

• Administrative and technical supervision of the airport, in order to ensure that the work is maintained and
developed in accordance with the Federal and Local laws, rules and regulations.

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• The Department supervises all airport personnel with regard to safety and security and ensures measures

to avoid any breach of the Airport secured area. If, there is a breach, then the department investigates direct

violators and administers procedures in cooperation with other authorities.

• The Department, in conjunction with other Authorities, shall supervise applied systems and instructions

and to take steps, whatever it deems necessary to preserve and ensure the safety of aircraft, handling and

navigational devices. The department shall have the right to do the following:

• To keep away, restrict or prohibit the entry of individuals and equipment for particular areas within the

airport.

• To verify the identity of individuals and vehicles entering the airport and to monitor, investigate and inspect

them if necessary.

• To inspect any person suspected of possessing weapons, flammable materials, or that can be used for acts of

sabotage and threats during the flight.

Executive Role
After verifying the financial, administrative and technical capability of the companies,
the following shall be done
• Approval from the concerned licensing authorities for carrying out the activities of travel, cargo and tourism

agencies.

• Initial approval of the issuance of aviation approvals for activities related to civil aviation, aircraft

maintenance, aircraft parts trading and all other aviation related activities.

• Approval for aviation activities of companies that wish to operate within Ras Al Khaimah International

Airport premises.

• Facilitate investigation committees on aviation accidents by GCAA (General Civil Aviation Authority) in

accordance with the provisions of the Federal Civil Aviation Law, as well as supporting audits conducted by

GCAA (General Civil Aviation Authority).

• Prior authorization for the establishment, operation or investment of airport and airstrips in the Emirate

are subject to rules and regulations of the GCAA (General Civil Aviation Authority) and the Department of

Civil Aviation, RAK. They shall establish the rules and conditions for issuing the aviation approvals for the

establishment and operation at RAK Airport, subject to payment of the authorized fees.

• No obstructive object or building can be constructed within the security parameters of the airport or make

any changes to the natural habitat except by prior authorization from the Department and in accordance with

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 the established conditions. The Department has the right, if needed, in coordination with the

Municipal Department, to remove any constructions in this area that is set up without prior permit issued by

the Department.

• No light beacons can be constructed or fireworks be conducted which may affect the air traffic flow, unless

approved by the Department.

Aircrafts exempted from all fees include

Presidential Flight Federal Air Force

Any other aircrafts that the Department decides to exempt after

obtaining the necessary approval from the concerned authorities

Aircraft used as an ambulift or rescue e.g. Red Crescent

• To apply laws and regulations issued by the competent Authority concerning the issuance of approvals,

operating certificates, standards of operation specifications or rights of carriage and bilateral agreements

• Issuing permits for entry into the prohibited zone in the Airport, for persons, vehicles and equipment. The

Department has the right to cancel any permit without any prior notice.

• To issue special permits for the placement of posters, guidance material or information boards in the areas

of the Airport.

Development Role
• Representing the Emirate in the local and international Civil Aviation conferences in accordance with the

prevailing regulations.

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• Proposing local fees and taxes for the services provided by the Department, such as landing, arrivals,

handling and departure of aircrafts and the collection of these fees in due consideration of the GCAA (General

Civil Aviation Authority) as well as the Federal Civil Aviation Law.

• The Department has special safety policies and procedures in place for all its functions related to aviation

safety, security and operations which include restrictions of laying cables/wires as well as signages clearly

outlining the measures taken.

Leading Role
• According to the Resolution No. (11) of 2014 regarding the write-off, dismantling and recycling of aircrafts,

the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is one of the distinguished Emirates that provide this service

Competitiveness and Leadership of Civil Aviation

The Civil Aviation sector in Ras Al Khaimah has achieved a state of the art aviation infrastructure, which

has contributed significantly in the diversification of the National Income sources due to its continuous work

that is aimed to develop the airline sector by many leading achievements in the field of competitiveness and

Institutional Excellence, Including:

Some of the leading competitive achievements

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Rapid Developments and Proactive Achievements
The Department of Civil Aviation has been able to provide a variety of services (29 at present) through

Mediaf services in accordance with safety and security regulations, in order to strengthen the Aviation Sector

in the Emirate and is able to make significant progress through the services required for its customers and

shareholders in the Aviation Sector.

Since its establishment, the Department has completed many new and innovative projects with outstanding

results, including

Services provided by the Department (1)

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 Services provided by the Department (2)

Services provided by the Department (3)

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Competitive strategic projects and initiatives

Government laws and Regulations applied in the Department

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 Strategic Partnerships and Agreements with Parties

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Procedures and policies being studied for the purposes of modernization or amendment
• The Department of Civil Aviation follows most of the laws and regulations established by the International

Civil Aviation Organization and the GCAA (General Civil Aviation Authority), as well as based on internal

procedures that are amended from time to time by the Department.

Laws and regulations being studied for the purposes of modernization or amendment
• A study is under way to issue a regulation for the practice of light air sports in the Emirate of

Ras Al Khaimah.

Strategic Objectives

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 Initiatives Based on Strategic Achievements

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 Initiatives based on strategic objectives

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Current Scheduled Airline Operators

Air Arabia Air India Express

Spice Jet

Operators of Unscheduled Airlines

Lux Air Ural Airlines

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 The success story of the initiative working program
(CONTINUE)
Creativity and continuing work have no limits. The impossible must be accomplished, but the miracle needs

time. Under the current circumstances the team of the innovation committee, under the directions of the

Director General, insisted to continue work in order to obtain the Global Certificate. All the employees of the

Department continue to complete the rest of projects that is to be completed before the pandemic and hence

came the idea of the logo “CONTINUE” to motivate employees to continue working and not to give up

whatever the circumstances and challenges are, which includes:

Month: March The Beginning

• The risks faced by the Department have been identified.

• Preparing the mechanism of continuity (directory)of work based on the directory of guidance

to the readiness of the continuity of the work of UAE institutions for the state of Corona virus.

• The application of the system of remote working for emergency purposes according to the

Circular number (11) of the year 2020 of the Department of Human Resources.

• The standard of management of business continuity.

Month: April-May Response

• To follow-up on the implementation of corrective plans for the risk register of the Department.

• The start of applying the remote working system from 5 April 2020 at 50% of employees by shifts.

• Doing the Medical examinations for virus coved 19 to ensure the safety of employees.

• To replace the normal computer by lap top for all employees in order to facilitate the remote

working and to insure the productivity of employees.

Month: June Healing

• Doing the medical examination for all employees in order to come back to office working at 100%.

• Adhering to the governmental resolutions and directions in UAE and the Emirate of Ras Al- Khaimah i.e.

applying the circular No. (9) issued by the Human Resources Department of 2020 regarding the gradually

return of employees to offices.

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• To adopt the system of (go to meeting) in order to conclude all meetings and the external auditing related

to the Department.

Entities that affected by the implementation of (CONTINUE) program

Achievements of (CONTINUE) Program during Corona Pandemic

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 Future plans of the Department of Civil Aviation in the Emirate

Under the guidance of the RAK Government and in line with RAK Vision 2030, the Department of Civil

Aviation is developing projects as part of future plans and these projects include:

• Creating virtual innovation center that will focus on introducing new ideas for innovation and holding

brain storming sessions with internal and external stakeholders.

• Coordination with the GCAA (General Civil Aviation Authority) in relation to all regional aviation rules,

regulations and procedures.

• Development of air relations between Ras Al Khaimah and other countries

• Developing, designing and supervising the aviation security system at RAS Al Khaimah airport through

the implementation of the security gates project and the activation of the electronic

cards project.

• Provide traffic regulation within the flight information area and at airports (FIR).

• Coordination and cooperation with government departments and other travel agencies in Ras

Al Khaimah.

• Cooperation and signing memorandums of understanding with RAK Tourism Development

Authority, RAKEZ, RAK Chamber and The Department of Economic Development in order to

Cooperate with these departments in Marketing.

• To increase the rate of Emiratization in the aviation sector in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

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 The Future Vision of Civil Aviation in the UAE

The UAE has achieved policies and legislations through which it has regulated its economic activities in

general and the activities of the air transport and aviation sector in particular, which has made it a global

center in facilitating air trade operations, since UAE is distinguished as excellent in openness level of visas.

Where the GCAA (General Civil Aviation Authority) always strives to achieve the following strategic

objectives to raise the level of services for the better:

• The development and enforcement of safety and security regulations in accordance with international

standards and best practices.

• Continuous improvement of safety standards and air navigation services.

• Upgrading the UAE civil aviation sector on the international stage.

• Continuous improvement of air transport relations with countries around the world.

• Ensuring the provision of all administrative services to the General Authority for Civil Aviation in

accordance with standards of quality, efficiency and transparency.

• Establishing a culture of innovation in the institutional work environment.

The UAE is at the forefront of the aviation sector, particularly in light of the competitive developments that

achieved in modernizing its airport network infrastructure and expanding its commercial fleet, this will be

one of the most important reasons for hosting many related events aimed to exchange opinions, experience

,expertise, analyzing modern trends in the aviation markets, developing strategies and mechanisms to achieve

more investments in the aviation sector by highlighting on the promising investment opportunities under the

large infrastructure projects which will grow up the aviation industry and refresh the global economy and

ensuring the growth and sustainability of the future of aviation.

General Civil Aviation Authority The Next Fifty Years Plan

The Best Civil Aviation in the World 2071

The Aviation sector should be the fastest growing, developed and connected in the world and be an economic

heart and a major center for travel, business and investment, through a smart legislative system and integrated

solid infrastructure and advanced qualifications and skills.

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 General Civil Aviation Authority The Next Fifty Years Plan

Despite the high levels of competency achieved by the Emirate’s Civil Aviation Sector, still there are standard

monitors are not showing the actual position of the Sector.

General Civil Aviation Authority The Next Fifty Years Plan

Remarks: Most of the airlines companies and airports have no clear expectations because of COVID-19 Pandemic, which
may be clear by 2025.
Source: all indicators based on expectations of Etihad Airways report for the year 2017.

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 THE RAS AL KHAIMAH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Airport Facilities
The Ras Al Khaimah International Airport offers a range of facilities and services in order to ensure a

seamless experience for the passengers. It has a dedicated VIP lounge that can accommodate up to sixty

passengers and a thirty-seater business lounge that caters to passengers travelling in premium coaches. These

lounges provide numerous amenities such as complimentary beverages, and television and Wi-Fi access. Both

the departure and arrival terminals have Duty Free outlets, which are open round the clock. It offers a range

of duty-free products to incoming, outgoing and transiting passengers, including confectionary, food items,

alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and other tobacco products, souvenirs, perfumes, cosmetics and toiletries, gift

items, fashion accessories and electronics.

After experiencing continued growth over the years, the Duty Free has enhanced its presence at the two

terminals. The departure terminal also has several restaurants serving a variety of cuisines. From the

beginning, RAK Airport has commissioned the Albert Abela Co. to cater food for the restaurants as well

for in-flight meals. Passengers also have access to snack bars, gourmet cafes and a smokers’ lounge at the

departure terminal, while both terminals have money exchange centres, ATMs and prayer rooms.

For people of determination, RAK Airport provides free wheelchairs, Ambu-lifts and designated toilets. The

Airport also has a medical facility with an on-call nurse for treating sick passengers. There are also ambulan

es and medical lifts on standby for emergencies, wherein patients would be immediately transported to any of

the best hospitals in Ras Al Khaimah, such as the RAK Hospital, Saqr Hospital, Saif Hospital and Al Zahrawi

Hospital. For the safety and security of its passengers and employees, the Airport also has a police station and

firefighting service that are available at all times. The police station is located within the airport premises for

security reasons and for helping travellers with any legal matters in case of emergencies, threats or accidents.

The airport staff working at the fire and rescue services are constantly trained and retrained to international

standards in fire prevention and suppression, rescue and first aid.

Regular drills and practice exercises are held to assess their preparedness, response time and teamwork.
They are also provided with the latest firefighting equipment as well as foam tenders, pumps and a command

vehicle. The Airport has a 1-million-square-metre piece of land next to the aeronautical infrastructure that

is dedicated to maintenance facilities for aircraft of any size. They have entrusted the aircraft maintenance

to BCT Aviation Maintenance Ltd, an EASA approved Part 145 MRO that serves airlines, tour operators
and private aircraft owners globally. The company handles most aircraft from all the major manufacturers

including Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, ATR and Bombardier.

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 The Ras Al Khaimah Airport also became the first civil aviation station for the scrapping and dismantling of

old aircraft in 2014, when they started the dismantling work on twenty aircraft that had been left abandoned

at the airport for a number of years. With this, the airport made itself a prominent hub globally for aircraft

life-cycle management, an area that is currently growing. Now, the airport houses Aircraft Solutions Middle

East, which is a facility that not only dismantles, but also disposes, recycles and stores unused aircraft.

A Dedicated Freight Centre

Ras Al Khaimah Airport’s central location, the excellent road networks that connects it to the other emirates

along with its proximity to world-class ports make it an ideal location for cargo operations. The nearness

of the ports means the availability of the sea-air cargo link, an added bonus for cargo operators and freight-

forwarders. The Ras Al Khaimah Freight Centre houses two dedicated buildings fitted with state-of-the-art

facilities for handling, scanning and loading cargo, with specific storage rooms for the different types of cargo

it receives – including valuable goods and hazardous or dangerous goods. The Centre is also equipped to

handle bulk cargo, live animals as well as fresh meat and produce.

The airport operates twenty-four hours with an adequate number of customs officials and health

department staff who can supervise the handling of livestock and inspect fresh meat imports. The list of

services offered by the freight centre includes import and export of cargo; inter-airport trucking; customs

clearance; free paking spaces for large trailers; and cold storage facilities with a freezer and chiller. Moreover,

the Centre hastie-ups with Emirates Sky Cargo, Aramex, FEDEX and DHL to provide their services from the

Ras Al Khaimah facility through an integrated air and land network. The Centre also focuses on increasing

trans-shipment freight through the road networks to the other emirates.

Due to the steady increase in cargo traffic over the years, the dedicated Freight Centre was opened at

Ras Al Khaimah Airport in 2003, in conjunction with Emirates Cargo. The main aim of establishing this

centre was to handle the increase in the influx of cargo traffic and also to attract major international cargo

companies to the emirate and thereby aid the process of development. In 2009, the airport authorities opened

a new cargo terminal that doubled the airport’s freight capacity to 60,000 tonnes per year. It again expanded

its cargo operations with yet another facility following an 80 per cent increase in cargo in 2016, which also
coincided with the airport’s fortieth anniversary. In 2016, Egypt Air Cargo began flying to the airport from

Cairo on a weekly schedule. RAK Airport and Egypt Air Cargo worked together to achieve an incredible feat

of logistics in 2019 when the carrier transported forty tonnes of live honeybees to the emirate. With around

350 million bees, the shipment was one of the largest of its kind in the region. The airport staff quickly and
efficiently processed the consignment, so that the bees could be collected by the customers, who then took

them to various farms across the UAE.

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This added to the airport’s good reputation for handling livestock. Numerous UAE-based companies use the

airport for the import and export of animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats and camels, for local farms mainly

because of the major benefit of short transit times from the airport to the farms.
In March 2020, RAK Airport inked a deal with the Indian carrier SpiceJet and the GMR Hyderabad

International Airport in India for the import of vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices, flowers, livestock, as well

as marine and seafood products from India to the UAE and its neighbours via Hyderabad from April 2020.

The agreement could potentially lead to the opening of an agro-corridor between India and the UAE, with the

Ras Al Khaimah International Airport providing infrastructural and local support for the goods and facilitating

its onward connection to the other countries in the Middle East. Moreover, SpiceJet recently expanded its

freight capabilities with non-stop, long-haul flights to and from Europe. For this, the airline has increasingly

been using RAK Airport as a hub for its cargo operations.

Future Plans for the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport

The passenger and cargo traffic at the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport have continued to increase year

by year since its operations commenced in 1976. During the 2020 global pandemic, RAK Airport played

a prominent role in the UAE’s repatriation efforts when tourists and expatriate residents were stuck in the

country following the closure of borders across the globe. These efforts also helped raise the airport’s status

as a convenient base that connects the UAE to cities around the world. Also, the resumption of flights after
the global aviation shutdown – as well as a quest to reach and exceed pre-pandemic level performance –

means an expansion to its operations. The airport currently offers several benefits to leisure and business

travellers, including competitive prices, easy accessibility from the rest of the UAE and also that it has no slot

restrictions, which means no delays and smoother operations.

Expansion plans include the development of the arrival halls as well as the opening of new buildings to

accommodate more flights, which will, in turn, play a major role in the increase of scheduled and seasonal

flights to the emirate. The deal with India’s SpiceJet to start operations on a new plane from the emirate also

serves an impetus to develop the airport further. The Ras Al Khaimah International Airport has a vital role to

play in the region’s air cargo sector. As explored in the previous chapter, the airport’s proximity to the ports

gives it an added advantage of access to the air-sea cargo corridor.

There are future development plans in place to increase air cargo activity and to provide more logistical

options and opportunities so that more cargo companies flock to the emirate to set up operations. The country’s

leaders have made substantial investments to the UAE’s aviation market, which is one of the most dynamic

in the region.

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 To support the industry, RAK Airport is keen on providing the required facilities to companies that they

can include at the heart of their operations. They are also eager to attract aircraft maintenance companies,

with emphasis on adherence to strict safety procedures to ensure the highest quality. The Ras Al Khaimah

International Airport also launched smart travel gates to facilitate passenger registration services at the

portal and online completion of travel procedures within seconds. The airport also has sixteen smart gates that

provide check-in services, passport data check, facial recognition and biometric data entry before boarding

and after landing. The authorities continuously monitor these services and facilities and upgrade them as

required so that the airport is on par with the best international aviation hubs.

Airline List 2021

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Cargo Statistical Data for 2020

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Special Thanks:

RAK Chamber of Commerce and Industry offers thanks to:

• The Chairman: H.E Engr. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al-Qasimi

• The Director General: Ms. Hanan Abdullah
• Ms. Esraa Al-Awadhi
• Mr. Zalend Arifin
• Ms. Joanna Jacinto
• Mr. Adnan Saleh