The Ministry of Transportation in the State of Qatar announced today, Friday, that the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has agreed to start establishing the Doha Aviation Information Region, describing the decision as an achievement for the Qatari civil aviation system.

Qatari Minister of Transport Jassim bin Saif Al-Sulaiti said that during the first phase of establishing the Doha region, Qatar will be able to add new air routes and increase the capacity of the aircraft waiting area in the air.

He explained that Qatar will also be able to increase the search and rescue area in accordance with the new dimensions of the Doha region.

In an achievement added to the achievements of the civil aviation system of the state.. The ICAO Council approves the start of establishing the Doha Aviation Information Region # Qatar đŸ‡¶đŸ‡Š pic.twitter.com/rMVACj5d87

— Ministry of Transportation (@MOTQatar) March 25, 2022

I was pleased with the issuance of the ICAO decision regarding the approval of the dimensions of the Doha Flight Information Region FIR and the Doha Search and Rescue Region SRR, which will contribute to enhancing air safety and improving the efficiency of aviation operations in the region in line with the strategic objectives of ICAO.

@MofaQatar_AR @MOTQatar

- Dr.

Muhammad Al-Khulaifi (@Dr_Al_Khulaifi) March 25, 2022

The expert in air navigation affairs, Alex Macheras, said that the ICAO decision, which he described as historic, officially changes the map of global airspace by establishing a Qatari airspace, and redraws the air borders of the Middle East for the first time in 30 years.

He added that Qatar's airspace will reduce Bahrain's airspace and extend to the UAE and Iran.

Last summer, the ICAO Council agreed in principle to establish the Doha Aeronautical Information Region (FIR) and the Doha Search and Rescue Region (SRR) based on the proposal submitted by the State of Qatar during the 223rd session of the Council’s meetings that It was held on the 18th of last June.

This includes Qatar’s sovereign airspace and other neighboring airspaces located above the high seas. Qatar’s proposal also included its intention to withdraw from the current arrangement in which the Kingdom of Bahrain was assigned the task of providing air navigation services over its sovereign territory under paragraph (1.1.2) of the Annex 11) of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, concluded in 1944.

The Council acknowledged the right of the State of Qatar to request the establishment of the Doha Aviation Information Territory and the Doha Search and Rescue Territory over its sovereign territory and the airspace above it.

Qatar affirms that it aims, through its proposal, to support the development of safe and sustainable air transport operations in the region, thus strengthening its commitment to the global aviation sector.

The International Council of the Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) @icao has approved the establishment of an entirely new air border for the State of #Qatar, marking the first official change to the map of global airspace in 30 years.

pic.twitter.com/9u7Spq4XGd

— Abdullah Al-Watheen (@abqatar) March 25, 2022

In an extraordinary, historic decision, ICAO council countries agreed to change the world's official map of the skies (huge) — adding Qatar's airspace ✈

Qatar's first-ever airspace will reduce the size of Bahrain's airspace, and stretch out to the UAE, and Iran ↔ đŸ—ș ↕ pic.twitter.com/KuDfpEUDqV

— Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) March 25, 2022