DOHA — A high-level Saudi delegation is participating in the ongoing three-day third meeting of the Directors General of Civil Aviation in the Middle East that started yesterday (Monday) in Doha, Qatar. The Saudi delegation, led by Suleiman bin Abdullah Al-Hamdan - President of the General Authority for Civil Aviation, includes Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud - Assistant to the President for International Cooperation and Deputy Head of the Delegation, Wael bin Mohammed Al Sarhan - Assistant to the President for Communications and Marketing, Captain Abdul Hakim Al Alawi - Assistant to the Vice President for Safety and Air Transport, as well as a number of senior government officials. The conference aims to bring together decision-makers in the civil aviation sector under one roof to discuss the most significant issues facing their countries and the region at large, and those related to security and safety. Further, the meeting also serves as an important platform for communication, where delegates exchange views and help strengthen coordination and cooperation between the civil aviation authorities in the Middle East. Al-Hamdan said: "This meeting is truly one of the most important events held in the region to discuss key issues and developments and plans relevant to the sector. In addition, it also provides an excellent opportunity for decision-makers and officials of the civil aviation sector in the region to exchange expertise, experiences, and new ideas. For this year's meeting, we have created an agenda featuring a number of important topics and issues in the context of our representation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." He further said "the conditions in which our region has witnessed require us to be more aligned and coordinated to serve the best interests our leadership. We aim, through this participation, to revisit key common issues and make the right decisions that will achieve both harmony and integration to further reinforce the fact that we need to work together to face any potential future challenge in civil aviation." The conference is held every two years in one of the Middle East member-states of ICAO, and is attended by the directors general of civil aviation in the region, who convene together to discuss ways of strengthening the civil aviation industry and air transport, outline plans to further develop the sector in the region, and review the latest data and trends relating to aviation safety and safety management systems. Saudi Arabia hosted the second meeting in 2013. — SG
