Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
An Emirati woman has become the first in the Middle East to be elected as chair of the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Maryam AlBalooshi, Senior Manager of the Environmental Affairs Office at the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) was elected to the role during the ICAO committee's 14th meeting, attended by representatives of 34 Member States, and held in Singapore from 1 to 5 December 2025.
The role encompasses numerous international responsibilities related to shaping the future of the aviation sector and reducing its environmental impact, with a focus on economic development and the continued growth of this vital industry.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GCAA, stated: “The trust placed by international organisations and the global community in Emirati competencies is highly appreciated and reflects the importance of the UAE’s presence and influence in the international aviation sector, as well as its ability to lead specialised files in this vital industry and chart new horizons for its future. The election of...Maryam AlBalooshi embodies the respect and confidence enjoyed by Emirati talents, and demonstrates that the region possesses the capabilities required to actively participate in global decision-making.”
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA, said: “The Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection under the ICAO Council is an important committee. Many General Assembly decisions have relied on the outcomes of this committee, which have helped decision-makers understand environmental requirements and their economic implications, as well as their impact on the future of the aviation industry.
"The selection of Maryam AlBalooshi as Chair of the Committee represents a valuable addition to the UAE’s efforts in this vital field. We are confident that her leadership will mark the beginning of an important new phase in advancing this file and driving meaningful change in support of the sector’s sustainability.”
The Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) is a technical advisory body reporting to the ICAO Council. It consists of 11 working groups and approximately 1,200 experts, established to develop global standards, policies, and guidance material addressing the environmental impacts of international aviation.
The committee’s work focuses on key areas including aircraft noise, engine emissions, climate change, sustainable aviation fuels, and the development of environmental management tools. CAEP also provides scientific, technical, and economic assessments to the Council that support the development of global environmental legislation for the aviation sector.
Maryam AlBalooshi possesses extensive experience in this vital field. She is the first Emirati and the founder of aviation environment and climate change specialisation in the UAE since 2006, having established the Environment Department at Dubai Airports in 2008 and at the GCAA in 2010. She was also the first Arab to serve as an environmental secondee at ICAO under a five-month training programmein 2010.
She was elected Vice Chair of ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection from October 2013 until December 2025, and has represented the UAE in the Committee since 2013. In addition, she was elected as the first Chair of the Environmental Committee of the Arab Civil Aviation Organisation in 2010, affiliated with the League of Arab States, and was unanimously reappointed for a second term in 2012 and again in 2021. She has represented the UAE in numerous local, regional, and international meetings related to this field.
Among her key achievements are leading the development, approval, and implementation of the UAE’s first Aviation Environmental Policy in 2012, the first policy of its kind across all sectors nationally. She also led the drafting and adoption of the UAE’s first official climate change position for the aviation sector and supervised the development of the GCAA Sustainability Strategy, launched in 2014.
AlBalooshi contributed to the UAE’s successful election to membership of ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection in 2016. Together with the national aviation fuel team, she supported the launch of the UAE’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap in 2023.
She also led the drafting, approval, and submission of the UAE’s National Action Plan for the reduction of international aviation emissions to ICAO, with its third edition submitted at the Organisation’s 42nd General Assembly in October 2025.
