The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has certified Serco as the first provider under a new national framework for airport rescue and firefighting services (ARFFS). The approval authorises the company to train and assess personnel at operational, supervisory and management levels across the country, in line with GCAA requirements. The framework sets a competency-based approach to standardise qualifications and link them to staff duties and aerodrome safety requirements.
The new rules formalise how airport firefighting personnel are trained and assessed, integrating regulatory oversight with specialist instruction and operational readiness. GCAA aviation safety official Aqeel Al Zarouni described the certification as a step towards strengthening staff competence and emergency-response preparedness. Serco Middle East General Manager Hana Abu Kharmeh welcomed the approval.
The certification applies across the UAE. No specific airport or date for the start of training under the approval has been identified. Serco’s authorised scope covers both training programmes and competency assessments, from frontline operational roles through supervisory and management positions.