The General Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, has conducted a specialised training course to encourage and support the prominent role of women in the aviation sector.

The three-day training course titled 'Strategic Planning and Innovation in Aviation' was led by Laila Bin Hareb, Assistant Director-General for the Strategy and International Affairs Sector in GCAA. It covered topics such as the application of strategic planning processes and concepts in the field of civil aviation, innovation, strategy development and implementation, in addition to corporate performance management.

Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the GCAA, said, "The aviation industry is one of the main contributors to the national economy of the UAE, therefore, strategic planning plays a pivotal role to ensure the integration of roles with consideration of changes in the context of a cohesive plan to ensure its sustained growth and alignment with the National Vision 2021."

The UAE's aviation industry has witnessed rapid growth. It has one of the fastest-growing international airlines and one of the world's busiest international airports. Furthermore, the fleet size of Emirates Airlines grew from 206 aircraft in 2013 to 252 in 2016, while Arabia increased from 29 in 2013 to 35 in 2016.

The fleet size of flydubai went from 32 in 2013 to 51 in 2016. The number of Open Skies Agreements signed by the GCAA increased from 81 in 2013 to 92 in 2016. By the end of 2016, the total number of Air Services Agreements reached 160.

"There is no doubt that the aviation sector is set to continue its rapid growth in the next few years and we seek to build an industry that supports and contributes to developing individuals, both men and women alike. We strive to train members to work in several administrative and technical jobs through our initiatives to offer an opportunity for women in a dynamic growing sector and a pioneering career path that is continuously evolving in the region.

''Overall, the GCAA seeks to enhance the capabilities of the aviation sector to contribute towards the UAE's transition into a knowledge-based economy by promoting innovation, supporting research and development, strengthening the regulatory framework and encouraging investment,'' Bin Hareb added.