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UAE and Canada have been in ambivalent relations regarding air travel policies for a number of years. From an agreement signed in 1999, there is a regulation in place that puts a limit to UAE’s flights to and from Canada to six flights per week. There have been previous discussions in attempts to lift the limit or at least increase the allowed services to and from Canada but negotiations have been unsuccessful. However, there has recently been an announcement stating that Canada has finally agreed to allow more UAE flights to take place within its territory.

Emirates to Canada

The largest long-haul carrier, Emirates, is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and is among the carriers mostly influenced by the UAE – Canada flight services cap. It has been well-known that Emirates has on numerous occasions attempted to negotiate with Canada on the rule without much success. In 2010, Canada rejected UAE’s request to receive more landing rights after a long discussion regarding the matter. The rejection was mainly influenced by Air Canada, the national carrier of Canada, who objected to the proposal.

Canada is a crucial area for UAE as it is the region’s biggest export market in the Middle East and North Africa

Currently, Emirates flies three weekly services from Dubai to Toronto with its A380 aircraft. Etihad Airways provides three weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Toronto, and Air Canada operates the same amount of flights between Toronto and Dubai. This schedule has been in place since 2015.

UAE in Need of More Flight Permission from Canada

However, Canada is a crucial area for UAE as it is the region’s biggest export market in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2016 alone, Canada accounted for $1.79 billion of UAE’s exports. Due to the high demand analysis shows that the cap of six flights a week to Canada is insufficient. There have been a number of steps taken to create a bond between Canada a UAE that would ultimately lead to a less strict and more liberal air travel between the two regions. A UAE-Canada Business Council has created as well as the elimination of a visa permit, previously necessary for Emiratis to travel to Canada.

Canada has ultimately agreed to allow an increase of 68% in the seating capacity to UAE

A meeting between the UAE Economy Minister Sultan Al Mansouri and Canadian Minister of Transport Marc Garneau was held in June this year where the potential of the increase of flight rights was again discussed. After new negotiations, Canada has ultimately agreed to allow an increase of 68% in the seating capacity to UAE. With a growth in the UAE flight capacity allowed to and from Canada, will certainly strengthen the ties between Canada and UAE and will stimulate business and travel between the two areas. With globalization taking place for a number of years it is the time that the geographical boundaries between Canada and UAE are removed.