Abu Dhabi International Airport - Governance

Governance

Aviation throughout each emirate is individually controlled by different governing bodies as each emirate sees fit. The mass of the 7 emirates and their controlling bodies is under the supervision of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority. The GCAA manages air navigation services, strategic and international affairs, safety affairs, air accident investigation, supportive services, and security affairs. Ten board members control the GCAA and aviation throughout the country. Individually, each emirate has its own controlling body, In the emirate of Dubai, airports are governed by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi International Airport (ADIA) is ran by the Abu Dhabi Airport Company (ADAC). In 2006 Law No. 9 of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi Executive Counsel created the Abu Dhabi Counsel for Economic Development (ADCED). ADCED “was established to facilitate economic diversification and growth through creating greater understanding, cooperation and engagement between the public and private sectors of the emirate of Abu Dhabi”. It is the view of the ADCED “to bring together business and government leaders with the aim of making Abu Dhabi an international economic hub, boasting a world-class economic environment with sustainable growth”. The ADCED has set forth a goal called the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision of 2030. The vision of 2030 “intends to build a sustainable and diversified, high value-added economy that is well integrated into the global economy and that provides more accessible and higher-value opportunities for all its citizens and residents”. To help achieve their 2030 economic goal the ADCED created the ADAC in 2006. The government created the ADAC with responsibilities of all airports in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and a goal to expand aviation infrastructure. The ADAC is wholly owned by the emirate of Abu Dhabi government and it's board members are actively involved with the governing of the emirate. The creation of the ADAC was a pro active attempt at staying ahead of the economic growth and development that is expected and planned in the Abu Dhabi region. ADAC is headquartered at its most important asset, ADIA. Besides control of ADIA, the company controls Al Bateen Executive Airport, Al Ain International Airport, Delma Island Airport, Sir Bani Yas Island airport, and seven subsidiaries that within their activities provide a wide range of aviation related services. The seven subsidiaries of the ADAC include the Abu Dhabi Airport Services (ADAS), Abu Dhabi In-Flight Catering (ADIFC), Abu Dhabi Cargo Company (ADCC), Abu Dhabi Duty Free (ADDF), Abu Dhabi Hospitality Company (ADHC), Gulf Centre for aviation Studies (GCAS), and Skycity (airport business and logistics park). The ADAC is controlled by a board of 5 members, one being the chairman, Khalifa Mohamed Al Mazrouei. Since 2006 Al Mazrouei has been the chirman of the ADAC and “has been actively spearheading the massive expansion in infrastructure and facilities taking place in the emirate’s aviation sector”. In 2009 Al Mazrouei was named the general manager of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi, where his role is to actively develop infrastructure to handle the expanding economy.