Afghanistan signed the third and final major contract for running Afghanistan's airports with the United Arab Emirates' GAAC Holding on Thursday because the Taliban administration seeks to expand international flights.
According to Ghulam Jelani Popal, deputy head of Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, the contract, signed between the Civil Aviation Authority of Afghanistan and GAAC, would run for 10 years. With the help of this agreement, the key airports in Afghanistan are expected to attract international flights. The contract also aims to ensure the safety and security of air navigation in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan needed extra support for major foreign airlines to resume full service in the country. The contract is seen as crucial to reviving Afghanistan’s shattered economy and helping the Taliban authorities ease their isolation from the outside world. GAAC also aims to ensure the safety of passengers and air navigation.
The success of GAAC Holding in managing the key airports will help bring back major international airlines to Afghanistan. It will also contribute to the return of Afghans to their home country, their stability, and their return to their families. The contract also aims to employ Afghan citizens. Under the deal, GAAC will hire Afghanistan citizens to work at the airports, including in security roles. With the help of the UAE, the Taliban authorities can create jobs for Afghanistan citizens.
GAAC also expressed optimism that the contract would encourage more investment. Ibrahim Moarafi, the General Manager and Regional Director of GAAC, said that the deal would encourage major international airlines to return to Afghanistan. Reportedly, the contract is part of over $300 million that GAAC wants to invest in Afghanistan over a 10-year period in order to revive the aviation sector in Afghanistan.
In May this year, the Taliban's deputy minister of transport and civil aviation signed a deal with a GAAC corporation representative for the management of key airports in the Herat, Kabul, and Kandahar regions in Afghanistan.
The Taliban authorities selected GAAC to operate Afghanistan’s airports because they believed in the capabilities of the UAE in the field of aviation. The UAE’s Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) is considered the largest commercial helicopter operator in the Middle East.
GAAC, which was involved in running security services at Afghan airports before the Taliban takeover, has already been awarded separate contracts for ground handling services of the key airports in Afghanistan. The UAE-based company has maintained a presence in Afghanistan since 2020.
The UAE has always helped Afghanistan during difficult times. The UAE also provided help to Afghanistan after a strong earthquake caused havoc in the country in June.
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