What this page covers
This page is about one country: the permits, airport slots and prior permission (PPR) a civil flight needs to cross or land in the UAE. It is written for business aviation, charter, cargo and air ambulance operators, and for the brokers and flight departments who arrange those trips.
For trips that cross several Gulf states, start with Middle East flight support. For how landing permits work in general, anywhere in the world, see landing permits. This page sticks to the UAE details that usually decide whether a flight is ready.
Who issues UAE permits
Civil overflight and landing permissions are issued by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The permit is only part of what a UAE flight needs. The main airports also manage their own capacity, so a landing often needs an airport slot or PPR as well. Both have to match the flight that actually operates.
State, military and diplomatic flights do not go through the civil process. They are cleared through government channels and usually need more notice. LFS handles those requests separately, under diplomatic clearance.
Overflight vs landing: what changes
Overflight permits
An overflight is filed for the planned entry and exit points and times in UAE airspace. The UAE is usually one country on a longer routing that also crosses Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain or Iran, so we file every state on the route together. The slowest approval decides when the trip is ready, so it is better to find it early.
More on how we file and track overflights is on overflight permits.
Landing and technical-stop permits
A landing needs more information: the purpose of the flight, who is on board or what is carried, the airport and the times on the ground. A technical stop for fuel or crew rest with no passengers boarding or leaving is still a landing and needs a permit. If the purpose changes, for example a tech stop turns into a passenger drop-off, the permit usually has to be revised.
Charter and commercial flights
Non-scheduled commercial flights, including passenger charter and cargo, are assessed against their traffic rights as well as the aircraft and operator documents. What applies depends on the operator's state, where the passengers or cargo come from and where they go next. We confirm this for each request before filing, so the application is not returned for the wrong category.
Documents usually requested
The exact list depends on the flight type and the operator, and the authority can ask for more. In most cases we prepare:
- Aircraft registration and airworthiness certificates
- Insurance certificate, including the cover the authority asks for
- Air operator certificate (AOC) and operations specifications for commercial flights
- Noise certificate and radio station licence where requested
- Crew names, licences and passport details
- Passenger manifest, or cargo manifest and dangerous goods details
- Planned schedule, routing and purpose of flight
Airport slots and PPR in the UAE
Several UAE airports are capacity-managed, and the permit alone does not secure a time to arrive or depart. Dubai International (OMDB) is a slot-coordinated airport, with slots allocated through the coordinator ACL (Airport Coordination Limited), and remains subject to the applicable landing permission. Business aviation is often directed to Dubai World Central (OMDW), which is widely used by private and charter flights into Dubai. Abu Dhabi (OMAA), Al Bateen (OMAD) and Sharjah (OMSJ) each have their own arrangements.
In practice the permit, the slot or PPR and the handler's parking confirmation are worked in parallel. A trip is only reported as ready when all three are in place and describe the same times. When a schedule moves, all three are updated together.
For airport detail see Dubai International handling, Dubai World Central handling, Abu Dhabi handling, Sharjah handling, OMDB slot coordination and our general guide to airport slots and PPR.
How much notice to give
Lead times depend on the flight type, the airport, the operator's state and the time of year. We do not publish a fixed figure because one would not be accurate for every flight. Send the request as early as you can, with full details. The duty desk will tell you the realistic timeline for your flight when we review it.
Short-notice flights such as medevac, aircraft-on-ground recovery or humanitarian missions can sometimes be put to the authority for faster review. Approval is always at the authority's discretion. See urgent flight permits.
Common reasons a UAE request is delayed
- The landing permit is filed without a matching slot, PPR or parking confirmation.
- Documents are expired, unclear or do not match the aircraft registration.
- The purpose of flight is unclear or changes after filing.
- The schedule moves and the permit, slot and handling are not all revised.
- Filing close to a weekend or public holiday, when review can take longer.
Choosing the right UAE airport
The best airport is the one that fits your passengers, your schedule and the parking available, not just the closest one. For Dubai trips, Dubai World Central often has more space for business aviation, while Dubai International is closer to the city centre but more constrained. Abu Dhabi has its main international airport and Al Bateen, which is close to the city and focused on business aviation. Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah are options for some cargo, charter and technical-stop flights.
We compare the options for your flight and tell you the trade-offs before filing, so the permit is requested for the airport you will actually use. Changing airport after approval usually means revising the permit and the slot.
After the permit is approved
Approval is not the end of the job. Permits are issued for a specific aircraft, schedule and purpose. If the aircraft is swapped, the times move outside the approved window, or passengers change on a charter flight, the permit may need to be amended. We monitor the schedule and tell you when a change needs a revision, so the crew is never on the ramp with a permit that no longer matches the flight.
How LFS handles a UAE permit request
One dispatcher owns the file from first message to departure. We check the routing and flight type, confirm what the GCAA and the airport need, and list any missing documents in one message. Then we file the permit and request the slot or PPR at the same time, book handling and fuel if you need them, and confirm everything back to you in writing.
If something changes, such as a new time, aircraft or passenger list, we tell you what needs to be revised before it causes a problem on the day.
Handling, fuel and crew in the UAE
Permits are usually one part of a wider UAE trip. LFS coordinates ground handling through the licensed handlers at each airport, fuel uplift through fuel services, and hotels, transport and visa questions through crew logistics. All services are confirmed with the provider for each flight.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues UAE overflight and landing permits?+
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) issues civil overflight and landing permissions. Airport slots or PPR are requested separately from the airport where they apply.
Do I need a slot as well as a permit for Dubai?+
Yes. Dubai International is slot-coordinated through ACL (Airport Coordination Limited), and the slot is needed in addition to the applicable landing permission. Other UAE airports have their own arrangements, which we confirm for each flight.
Which Dubai airport do business jets use?+
Business aviation uses both Dubai International (OMDB) and Dubai World Central (OMDW). Which one suits your flight depends on slots, parking and where your passengers are going.
How much notice do you need for a UAE permit?+
It depends on the flight type, airport and operator. Send the request as early as possible and the duty desk will confirm the realistic timeline for your flight.
Is a technical stop treated as a landing?+
Yes. A technical stop for fuel or crew rest still needs a landing permit. If passengers board or leave, the purpose of flight changes and the permit may need to be revised.
Can you change a UAE permit after it is approved?+
Yes. If the aircraft, times or purpose of flight change, we request an amendment from the authority and update the slot or PPR at the same time, so all of them match the flight that operates.
Do you handle diplomatic and state flights to the UAE?+
Yes, through a separate clearance process via government channels. See our diplomatic clearance page.
Ready to plan your UAE flight?
Send your route, aircraft details and schedule through our request form. Our dispatch team will review what the GCAA and the airport need and confirm the documents required. All permits remain subject to approval by the relevant authority.