UAE Airlines Gains Control Over Aircraft Design and Certification

Emirates has been cleared by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to undertake major aircraft modifications on its Airbus and Boeing fleets. The authorization empowers Emirates Engineering to extend its local existing minor modification capabilities to include major cabin reconfigurations and complex design changes. Emirates is the first UAE organization to receive major design modification approval from GCAA. The approval was confirmed on November 20, 2025, and is expected to be integral to the airline’s engineering operations at its DWC facility. The GCAA will be able to independently review and process major modifications without the original equipment manufacturers’ involvement.