The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), will host the 4th ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium 2025 (GISS 2025), as well as its accompanying exhibition, the inaugural Global Sustainable Aviation Marketplace (GSAM 2025), a significant UAE initiative under the ICAO umbrella aimed at accelerating global efforts to produce alternative and low-carbon fuels for the international aviation sector.
The international GISS 2025 event will take place from 10-12 February 2025 and is expected to attract widespread global participation. The event will bring together more than 1,500 participants, including representatives from ICAO's 193 member states, as well as ministers, heads, and directors-general specialising in transport, aviation, and energy. The agenda also features 150 speakers, including experts, senior government officials, and CEOs from leading companies in these crucial industries.
The accompanying GSAM 2025 exhibition will showcase 75 global companies specialising in aviation, energy, and advanced technologies.
The symposium will be inaugurated by His Excellency Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the GCAA Board, and Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the ICAO Council.
His Excellency Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of the GCAA, said: “Hosting the UAE of these major and influential international events in the civil aviation sector reflects its pioneering position at both the regional and global levels, and its continuous commitment to supporting international efforts to enhance sustainability in this vital sector.”
His Excellency Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri expressed his hope that the events would contribute to launching new programmes, initiatives, and recommendations that support international efforts to develop the civil aviation sector, enhance its competitiveness and sustainability, and promote investment in innovation, technology, and advanced technologies to achieve this goal.
Salvatore Sciacchitano, ICAO Council President, said: “The ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium 2025 (GISS 2025) will bring together states, industry leaders, and stakeholders to shape the future of aviation. This symposium will focus on two critical areas transforming the industry: sustainability and artificial intelligence, while ensuring the safety and security of aviation operations. Sustainability in aviation goes beyond its environmental impact; it encompasses long-term economic viability and operational efficiency. The GISS will explore the evolving regulatory landscape, global standards, and the safe integration of new technologies into aviation operations.”
His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of GCAA, said: “The holding of this event in Abu Dhabi reflects the UAE's leading position as a strategic partner in the development of the civil aviation sector and its pivotal role in supporting innovation and enhancing sustainability in this field.”
His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi also emphasised that the launch of GSAM 2025 adds special significance to the event, as this initiative aligns with the pressing needs of the international aviation sector to achieve a true global consensus on low-carbon alternative fuels and work towards boosting their production in the coming years.
The agenda of the international event will also include the participation of prominent officials from around the world, including Barbara Creecy, Minister of Transport of South Africa, Viliame Rogoibulu Gavoka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism & Civil Aviation of Fiji, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, Minister for Public Works and Transport of Eswatini, Alhaji Fanday Turay, Minister of Transport and Aviation of Sierra Leone and Abdul Wahab Teffaha Secretary-General of Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), along with other international speakers representing government agencies, major companies, and academic institutions specializing in aviation, energy, sustainability and technology.
GISS 2025 is one of the most prominent international events organised by ICAO, aiming to enhance the safety, security, and sustainability of civil aviation worldwide. Previous editions of the symposium were held in Istanbul in Turkey; Seoul in South Korea; and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. The current edition, to be hosted by the UAE, is the first to be held in the Middle East and focuses specifically on two key areas: sustainability and the application of artificial intelligence in the civil aviation sector.
The event includes various activities, such as panel discussions, workshops, and opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange among participants, to help strengthen international partnerships and contribute to shaping the future of the civil aviation sector.
The first edition of GSAM 2025, organised under the umbrella of ICAO, is a pioneering Emirati initiative. Aiming to gather all stakeholders involved in the production, distribution, financing, storage, and consumption of sustainable aviation fuel, GSAM 2025 will be a comprehensive platform to drive global efforts to develop sustainable solutions that meet the needs of the civil aviation sector. The exhibition will be held in tandem with the Sustainable Aviation Future Congress, organised by Sustainable Aviation Futures MENA.
