Abu Dhabi Aviation

Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) was established in 1976 as the first commercial helicopter operator in the United Arab Emirates, serving the offshore oil and gas industries primarily.

Over the following decades, ADA expanded significantly to become the largest commercial helicopter operator in the Middle East. The company operates a fleet of 58 aircraft, including 51 helicopters and 7 fixed-wing aircraft, with a workforce exceeding 1,000 personnel, including pilots and engineers. Its primary base is Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport.

Initially focused on helicopter transport for the UAE’s oil fields, ADA broadened its services over time to include medical evacuation, aerial construction, survey and photography, cargo charter, search and rescue, firefighting, and VVIP passenger transport.

In 1991, ADA secured its first fixed-wing aircraft contract and has since operated aircraft supporting major oil companies and infrastructure projects across the Middle East and internationally in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, Spain, Brazil, Australia, India, and Afghanistan.

Abu Dhabi Aviation also manages aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations through joint ventures like Agusta Westland Aviation Services. Its training wing, Abu Dhabi Aviation Training Center, offers pilot training with state-of-the-art simulators for both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

The company is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi nationals and the Abu Dhabi government through ADQ Aviation and Aerospace Services LLC, embodying a strategic collaboration between government support and private governance.

Throughout its history, ADA has maintained a reputation for operational excellence and safety, logging nearly one million helicopter flight hours and thousands of landings annually servicing offshore oil operations.

The company operates as a key enabler of the UAE’s economic infrastructure, supporting vital sectors with aviation solutions tailored to complex and remote environments. With a commitment to innovation and sustainable growth, Abu Dhabi Aviation continues to lead the region’s aviation services industry