The (ICAO) Council approves the proposal of the State of Qatar to establish the Doha Aeronautical Information Region and the Doha Search and Rescue Region

Qatar / The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) approved in principle the establishment of the Doha Flight Information Region (FIR) and the Doha Search and Rescue Region (SRR) based on the proposal submitted by the State of Qatar, which includes Qatar’s sovereign airspace, to enhance safety and efficiency levels in the airspace. regional, and other adjacent airspaces located over the high seas. This was during the 223rd session of the Council’s meetings, which was held on June 18

The proposal of the State of Qatar also included its intention to withdraw from the current arrangement whereby the Kingdom of Bahrain was assigned the task of providing air navigation services over its sovereign territory in accordance with paragraph (1.1.2) of Annex (11) of the Chicago Convention.
The Council acknowledged the right of the State of Qatar to request the establishment of the Doha Aeronautical Information Region and the Doha Search and Rescue Region over its sovereign territory and the airspace above it, pursuant to Article (1) of the Chicago Convention and in accordance with Annex (G) by General Assembly Resolution No. (40-4).
Through its proposal, the State of Qatar aims to support the development of safe and sustainable air transport operations in the region, which enhances its commitment to the global aviation sector.
In addition, the Council stressed that the introduction of amendments to the regional air navigation plan is a matter that depends on good relations, cooperation and mutual respect among countries and that these factors are essential to provide smooth services while ensuring the highest level of safety and quality.
It should be noted that the Air Navigation Committee, through its review of the technical aspects of the proposal, confirmed that the State of Qatar possesses the capabilities and ingredients necessary to manage air traffic in a safe and effective manner, and to provide pioneering services in the field of search and rescue.
The Council also acknowledged that the Kingdom of Bahrain has been providing air navigation services in a safe and effective manner for several decades in the Middle East region.
The ICAO Council called on the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Qatar, along with neighboring countries with an interest in this issue, to initiate a cooperative dialogue under the auspices of the Chairman of the Council, to agree on appropriate technical arrangements for the implementation of the Doha Aeronautical Information Region and the Doha Search and Rescue Region, and to present the results of these discussions to the Council at its 224th session To approve the amendment of the Air Navigation Plan (Middle East Region).
This was preceded by a video call made on June 9, 2021, between His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications, His Excellency Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transport and Communications in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and His Excellency Mr. Salvatore Chachitano, President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO), to discuss the technical aspects of Qatar’s proposal, and then a meeting between the technical committees of the two countries followed on June 14, 2021.
His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Saif Al-Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications, valued the continuation of the member states of the WTO Council to hold sessions in light of these exceptional circumstances the world is going through and to consider and approve the proposal to establish the Doha Aeronautical Information Region and the Doha Search and Rescue Region, and expressed his thanks and gratitude to the State of Qatar Qatar to the International Civil Aviation Organization for its efforts in serving global civil aviation. His Excellency also thanked the 19-nation Air Navigation Committee, and the Air Navigation Department of the Organization’s General Secretariat for the tremendous amount of work that has been accomplished regarding the study of the proposal.
In his speech during the Council’s meetings (223rd session), HE the Minister of Transport and Communications said: The proposal of the State of Qatar to establish the Doha Aviation Information Region and the Doha Search and Rescue Region is of great importance to the future of civil aviation not only in the Middle East region but also in the entire world, and is fully consistent with The objectives of the Chicago Agreement, and that it expresses one of the sovereign rights of the State of Qatar and reflects the huge investments made by the State to develop its air navigation system for the benefit of the entire region by providing safe, efficient and smooth navigation services, in light of its possession of all the ingredients and capabilities necessary for air traffic management, And its readiness to provide distinguished and effective services in the field of search and rescue.
His Excellency added that the Chicago Agreement has clearly stated its objectives, as it expressly states that it is for the development of civil aviation in a safe and orderly manner, allowing the establishment of international air transport services on the basis of equal opportunities and their sound and economic operation.
His Excellency stressed the commitment of the State of Qatar, since its accession to ICAO, to apply the principles of the 1944 Chicago Convention with high professionalism, in terms of the peaceful use of airspace, freedom of navigation and protection of the air environment.
His Excellency explained that the State of Qatar has, over the past years, affirmed its firm belief in the rules and foundations that organize relations between countries in the civil aviation community. The State of Qatar is proud to be an active participant and key player in this UN organization and has spared no effort in supporting the global civil aviation sector to create an aviation sector characterized by safety, security, sustainability and efficiency.
His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Communications said that, based on the council’s decision, coordination for technical meetings with the Kingdom of Bahrain has already begun to complete what the organization’s council has concluded and prepare an implementation plan for the decisions it issued, concluding that the State of Qatar is looking forward to joint cooperation to implement the decisions that came in a timely manner.