Rabat – Kingdom of Morocco
Construction works for the new headquarters of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) officially commenced in Rabat, the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, on Thursday, 8 October 2026, at an official ceremony presided over by H.E. Mr. Abdessamad Kayouh, Minister of Transport and Logistics of the Kingdom of Morocco, and H.E. Pilot Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation of the Arab Republic of Egypt and President of the current session of the General Assembly of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization. The ceremony was attended by several members of the Organization’s Executive Council, as well as a number of officials and stakeholders involved in the project.
This project forms part of the continued support provided by the Kingdom of Morocco to the Arab Civil Aviation Organization and reflects its commitment to ensuring the appropriate conditions for the Organization to fulfil its mandate and strengthen its role in serving the civil aviation sector across Arab countries.
On this occasion, Mr. Kayouh emphasized that the new headquarters of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization would play an important role in guiding and developing civil aviation services across Arab countries, in accordance with the provisions of the agreements concluded within the framework of the League of Arab States.
Mr. Kayouh explained that, in addition to accommodating the Organization’s activities, the new headquarters would serve as a venue for regular meetings of civil aviation representatives and Arab Ministers of Transport. He further highlighted that the implementation of this project underscores the important role played by the Kingdom of Morocco in the field of air transport.
He also noted that the momentum expected in the air transport sector over the coming years would require meeting growing needs for the necessary equipment and infrastructure, both in the Kingdom of Morocco and across Arab countries and the rest of the world.
For his part, Eng. Khalid Cherkaoui, Director General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, stated that the new headquarters would provide a working environment meeting international standards for the Organization’s staff and personnel, as well as Arab delegations. He emphasized that the project also reflects the standing of the civil aviation sector in Morocco and the progress it continues to achieve. He added that the project would represent a qualitative milestone in the Organization’s operations and performance, enabling it to accelerate its activities and deliver services that meet the aspirations of Arab citizens in the field of air transport.
H.E. Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, affirmed that the commencement of construction works for the new headquarters represents an important step in the Organization’s development and reflects its commitment to modernizing its institutional infrastructure in line with the rapid developments taking place in the civil aviation sector. He noted that the planned headquarters would provide better facilities for implementing the Organization’s programmes and initiatives, while supporting broader cooperation and the exchange of expertise among Arab Member States.
The Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation added that the current phase calls for greater coordination and an enhanced exchange of Arab perspectives and expertise to keep pace with regional and international developments. He stressed that the project would contribute to strengthening communication between the Organization, its Member States and its partners, while reinforcing its presence in civil aviation forums.
Dr. Sameh El-Hefny also expressed his appreciation to the Kingdom of Morocco for its continued support for the Organization, emphasizing that the continued hosting of its headquarters in Rabat embodies the depth of Arab partnership and reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting joint Arab institutions and providing the necessary conditions for them to carry out their roles and responsibilities efficiently and effectively.
The new headquarters is expected to be constructed in accordance with the latest standards, specifications and modern technological requirements, providing an advanced institutional working environment that meets the Organization’s administrative and technical needs and keeps pace with the evolution of its mandate, programmes and expanding activities at both the Arab and international levels.
The new headquarters will include a range of facilities designed to enhance the Organization’s operational capabilities, including administrative and technical offices, a conference room for official meetings, and dedicated rooms for bilateral meetings. These facilities will provide suitable spaces for meetings of the Organization’s governing bodies and technical committees, the reception of official delegations, and the organization of bilateral and multilateral meetings and consultations.
This project is particularly significant given that the Kingdom of Morocco has hosted the headquarters of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization since its establishment in February 1996. Over the past three decades, Rabat has served as the Organization’s permanent base of operations and as a centre for its activities, meetings and programmes aimed at strengthening Arab cooperation and coordination in civil aviation.
The construction of the new headquarters marks a new chapter in the longstanding partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Arab Civil Aviation Organization. It also reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to continuing to host the Organization’s headquarters and to providing the institutional infrastructure required to support its work in line with developments in the civil aviation sector and the evolving needs of joint Arab action.
The new headquarters is expected to serve as a modern institutional hub for cooperation, coordination and joint Arab efforts in civil aviation. It will provide the Organization with an appropriate environment to continue implementing its programmes and initiatives and to strengthen its engagement with Member States, as well as relevant regional and international organizations and bodies, in support of its objectives of developing civil aviation and promoting integration and cooperation among Arab countries.
