Dubai: The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to Emirates Engineering, making it the first UAE-based entity to receive this certification, marking a major advancement in the nation’s aviation regulatory capabilities. This development is a significant step for the GCAA, positioning it among a select group of aviation authorities worldwide that have the capability to issue STCs. These certificates allow for certified modifications to aircraft, systems, and components in alignment with international safety standards.
According to Emirates News Agency, this achievement reflects the UAE’s growing engineering ecosystem and the GCAA’s commitment to strengthening national competencies, supporting local industry, and ensuring the highest levels of aviation safety and compliance. Eng. Aqeel Al Zarooni, Assistant Director-General for Aviation Safety Affairs at the GCAA, emphasized that the issuance of the STC demonstrates the maturity of the UAE’s aviation regulatory framework and the technical capability of local design organizations.
Ahmed Safa, Head of Engineering and MRO at Emirates, highlighted that securing the first STC from GCAA is an important milestone for Emirates Engineering. The certification follows their earlier recognition as an Approved Design Organisation and showcases the strength of their design capabilities and ability to carry out aircraft modification.
The issuance of this STC was facilitated by the granting of Design Organisation Approval (DOA) STC privileges to Emirates in late 2025, marking the first time the GCAA has extended such a privilege to a UAE-based organization. The GCAA continues to expand its oversight capabilities and collaborate with industry partners to elevate aviation safety, engineering excellence, and regulatory innovation across the region.