Gama Aviation’s new Sharjah Business Aviation Centre close to completion

“We’ve never been one to follow the herd,” said Tom Murphy, Managing Director FBO Services at Gama Aviation, taking the opportunity of the Dubai Air Show to give international media a sneak preview of its impressive new business aviation facility at Sharjah - on track to complete and open on 15th January, 2026.

He sees this significant project, representing an investment of US$65m, the biggest in Gama Aviation’s 42-year history - as ‘future proofing’ access to downtown Dubai from its home in the northern Emirates.

Gama Aviation undertakes hard-hat tour of Sharjah.

Its new Business Aviation Centre is strategically located as a ‘bridge,’ the state-of-the-art facility designed to bypass the congestion of more traditional hubs with fast road connections to downtown Dubai and the International Financial Centre (DIFC).

“If it wasn’t for Gama Aviation investing in this project there would only be one option for business aviation operators,” Tom Murphy said. “We’re stepping up from being an alternative to an advantage for our operators,” he stated, citing Dubai Airports’ declared plan to move operations from Dubai International to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) by 2032, making way for what will be the biggest international airport in the world. Big airports, he opined, don’t tend to lend themselves to the precise needs of business aviation.

Gama Aviation’s enhanced new facility can’t come soon enough. The group reports its business aviation traffic is 50% up on the previous year and passenger volumes 30% up. Its current FBO, built in 2012, has had to turn operators away of late because of lack of space, including private N-reg operators. That won’t be a problem when the new, 80,000 sqm site facility opens.

There are no slot restrictions. Ground operations will be enhanced with a self-manoeuvring apron, reducing towing and pushback requirements. Gama Aviation is in training to be fully self-sufficient airside. It will undertake fuel handling inhouse and carry out line maintenance and ground support activities. “We are especially excited to reduce taxi times (apron to runway) from the current six minutes to 90 seconds - unheard of in business aviation,” Tom added.

Sharjah - UAE’s first airport

Sharjah is not only the birthplace of aviation in the UAE. The first airport to be built in the Emirates, back in 1932, is also well located to serve emerging destinations including Ras Al Khaimah and Al Marjan Island.

“Fifteen months ago, this facility was just desert. It’s terrific to witness and be part of something being built from the ground up,” concluded Tom.

Rendering of Gama Aviation's Sharjah FBO.

Gama Aviation’s Sharjah Project was lauded in the Middle East Aviation Innovation Awards 2025. It took home the “Innovative Infrastructure Development Award during the industry gala evening during Air Show week.

Gama’s Sharjah Business Aviation Centre in numbers:

• Hangar: A 12,000-sqm, fully air-conditioned hangar - one of the largest in the region for business aviation.

• Terminal: A 3,000 sqm adjacent VIP passenger terminal with private lounges, relaxation suites, crew lounge, observation deck, refreshment centre and other hospitality facilities.

• Apron: A 36,000 sqm dedicated aircraft parking apron, storage and line maintenance with wide-span doors, direct apron access and capacity for multiple large-cabin jets.

• Helipad - for helicopters and future eVTOL models coming in the next phase.

Rendering of the Business Aviation Centre.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 27th November 2025 | Issue #821