UAE-developed LODD Hili initiates certification programme with GCAA — the first autonomous civilian aircraft designed, engineered and certified domestically in the UAE
Abu Dhabi, UAE,— LODD Autonomous, the Abu Dhabi-based autonomous aviation company, has initiated the certification programme for its Hili hybrid cargo aircraft with the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), making Hili the first autonomous cargo aircraft to enter formal civil aviation certification in the Arab world — designed, engineered and certified domestically in the UAE.
The certification programme marks Hili’s transition from development and flight testing into the formal certification phase, a critical step towards commercial entry into service.
Hili is a hybrid-powered vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft designed and developed by LODD in Abu Dhabi to transport payloads of up to 250 kilograms over distances of up to 700 kilometres — one of the longest-range cargo UAV programmes currently under development in the region. The aircraft is designed to reshape regional cargo transportation, enabling faster, more efficient and more sustainable healthcare, energy, humanitarian and industrial supply chains.
The certification programme will encompass aircraft design approval activities, airworthiness compliance demonstrations, ground and flight testing, operational evaluations and safety assessments required to demonstrate compliance with applicable airworthiness and certification requirements in support of future commercial operations.
The programme will be conducted under the supervision of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, in collaboration with the GCAA acting as the certifying authority throughout the process. It represents a significant milestone for both LODD and the UAE aerospace sector, and supports the company’s ambition to certify Hili as the first advanced autonomous civilian aircraft designed, engineered and certified in the UAE.
The initiative is supported by key stakeholders across Abu Dhabi’s aviation ecosystem, including the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), through its Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster.
Rashid Al Manai, CEO of LODD, said: “The launch of the Hili certification programme marks one of the most significant milestones in the evolution of the aircraft and reflects the progress we have made across design, engineering and flight testing. Entering formal certification demonstrates the maturity of the Hili programme and moves Hili from development into the pathway towards commercial operations. It brings us one step closer to delivering a UAE-developed supervised autonomous cargo aircraft system capable of transforming how critical goods are moved across the UAE, the region and globally. We are working with the GCAA throughout the certification process to demonstrate compliance with the highest airworthiness and safety standards. We are grateful for the continued support of the GCAA, ADIO and ITC as we advance towards certification and the future deployment of Hili from Abu Dhabi to the world.”
Eng. Aqeel Al Zarooni, Assistant Director General for Aviation Safety Affairs at the GCAA, said: “The initiation of the Hili certification programme demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to enabling innovation while maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety. Advanced aircraft programmes such as Hili play an important role in the evolution of aviation and support the safe integration of next-generation technologies into the national aviation ecosystem. Through close collaboration with industry stakeholders, the GCAA continues to support the development and certification of advanced aviation technologies that contribute to the growth of the national aviation sector and reinforce the UAE’s position as a global leader in aviation innovation.”
Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director General of the Integrated Transport Centre, said: “The certification of advanced autonomous aviation systems such as Hili represents a significant step in advancing Abu Dhabi’s integrated mobility ecosystem. At the Integrated Transport Centre, we are committed to enabling and supporting the development of innovative transport solutions that enhance efficiency, safety and sustainability across the Emirate.”
Ali AlHashmi, Head of the SAVI Cluster, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, said: “Hili’s progression into formal certification demonstrates the strength of the collaborative environment being built across industry, regulators and ecosystem partners to support the development, testing and commercial deployment of next-generation aviation technologies.”
Upon certification, Hili is expected to support a range of commercial applications including middle-mile logistics, healthcare supply chains, offshore operations, humanitarian response and regional cargo transportation.
