Tawazun and Thales to Innovate Air Traffic Flow Management in UAE

Abu dhabi: On the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow 2025, Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement (Tawazun) and Thales will sign an agreement to advance the development and implementation of an advanced Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) system. This initiative aims to improve the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the UAE's aviation ecosystem. The system will be operated and utilised by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), with Global Air Navigation Services (GANS) as a national partner. According to Emirates News Agency, Matar Al Romaithi, Director General, Industry Development at Tawazun, highlighted that the signing marks a significant milestone in strengthening the UAE's position as a leader in aviation innovation and advanced technologies. The initiative is designed to enable seamless collaboration among UAE aviation stakeholders for better air traffic flow management and optimized use of national airspace resources. Al Romaithi further noted that the project aligns with Tawazun's role in enabling national capabilities and fostering industrial growth, contributing to local economic impact through Emiratization, in-house software development, and new revenue stream creation within the national aviation sector. Under this agreement, Thales will work with GCAA and GANS to develop the new ATFM system. This will involve leveraging their proven ATFM software while co-developing new features within the framework of an ATM Innovation Lab, which is the first of its kind in the UAE. This lab will serve as a hub for experimentation, research, and the integration of emerging technologies into existing air traffic management systems. GANS will oversee the design and development of the platform, which the GCAA will ultimately operate to enhance national air traffic efficiency and management. Abdelhafid Mordi, Vice President of Thales in UAE and Iraq, and CEO of Thales Emarat Technologies, commented that this collaboration reinforces the UAE's ambition to build the world's most advanced and efficient airsp ace. By combining Thales' global leadership in air traffic flow management with the forward-looking vision of national partners, a foundation is being created for safer skies, smarter operations, and sustainable aviation growth. Establishing the first ATM Innovation Lab in the Middle East signifies a major step toward shaping next-generation airspace capabilities from within the UAE. With established ATM Innovation Labs in France, Australia, and Singapore, Thales' proposed UAE-based lab in Abu Dhabi will be the fourth globally and the first in the Middle East, reaffirming the UAE's growing role as a centre for advanced airspace management innovation. Looking forward, the partnership envisions broader engagement with national aviation stakeholders, including Abu Dhabi Airports, Etihad Airways, and Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS), through additional innovation squads dedicated to developing future ATM solutions.