Emirates has been cleared by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to undertake major aircraft modifications on its Airbus and Boeing fleets.
On November 20, 2025, Emirates confirmed that its engineering subsidiary received GCAA Design Organization Approval (DOA) through Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs).
In practice, the authorization empowers Emirates Engineering to extend its local existing minor modification capabilities to include major cabin reconfigurations and complex design changes, providing Emirates with “greater control over timelines, costs, and innovation priorities”.
The approval encompasses both Airbus and Boeing aircraft types, providing Emirates with flexibility across its entire fleet and potential future applications.
The GCAA will be able to independently review and process major modifications without the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) involvement, marking a milestone for UAE aviation regulation.
According to Emirates Engineering, the company is the first UAE organization to receive major design modification approval from GCAA.
“This approval fundamentally changes our approach to aircraft modification. In-house design and certification capability gives us direct control over our product development and helps us to define our specifications and our timeline. The timing also aligns with our expansion at DWC, where this certification expertise will be integral to our engineering operations,” said Adel Al Redha, Emirates Deputy President and CCO.
The types of major work that Emirates Engineering will now undertake have previously been outsourced to external original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or third-party design organizations.
Emirates Engineering now joins a handful of airlines worldwide with in-house major design and certification capabilities.
“This accreditation represents an important advancement in the development of the aircraft design and engineering approval ecosystem in the UAE. It reflects the readiness of the regulatory framework the GCAA is building to empower all maintenance and engineering service providers to enhance their capabilities,” said Aqeel Al Zarooni, Assistant Director General for Aviation Safety Affairs at the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority
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