Why Sharjah is the alpha site for Gama

Sharjah could become the next big thing in business aviation if Gama Aviation founder Marwan Khalek’s vision becomes a reality.

The company, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary next year, has been operating in the UAE for three years and, following an exclusive agreement with Sharjah Airport, a purpose-built business aviation centre is being developed.

Lebanese-born Khalek believes that with restrictions on slots and parking at Dubai International Airport, along with the move for business aviation to Dubai World Central, there could be a gap that Sharjah is ideally placed to fill.

“Sharjah is very close to Dubai city, where a lot of business is done. Business aviation works because people can get to where they want to go when they want to go there. With the constraints on business aviation at Dubai, Sharjah will be very quick to get in and out from, and with the excellent new roads in the Emirates, VIP passengers will quickly be able to get to their destinations,” he said.

Khalek’s family owned a furniture manufacturing business in West Africa. Like many Lebanese families, education was seen as a top priority and when young Marwan – equipped with a civil engineering degree and a private pilot’s licence –  identified aviation as channel he wished to follow, he had his father’s support. His father helped with the purchase of a Beech Baron and within a short while the enterprising Khalek and his partner, Steve Wright, had won contracts to ferry livestock. From there came the transition to passenger charter and Gama Aviation was up and running.

Today it is multi-national, with a headquarters at London’s Farnborough airport and operations in Europe and the USA.

“We made the decision to take our business model elsewhere,” Khalek said.

“You have to remember, this is our fourth big recession. We have taken our business model, thrown it at the wall a few times and it hasn’t broken. That reinforced our conviction that what we embarked on is sound. It’s a robust viable working model and our idea was to replicate it. We have done that in one of the harshest business environments. Three years down the line we see that the model is resilient and in good shape. We have no regrets.”

Gama Aviation identified Sharjah as being the ideal platform from which to grow. “The main markets in the region are UAE, Saudi and Lebanon. Jeddah, Dubai and Beirut are the three busiest airports and I make no excuse for going after those first,” said Khalek. “The market, unlike other parts of the world, is not saturated yet. Sharjah’s position is perfect.”

The company is expanding to Jeddah – and subsequently Riyadh – and is also progressing plans for Beirut.

“Subject to a few bureaucratic hurdles, we are ready to start doing business in Saudi. We are recruiting the core staff to begin by offering aircraft management and charter, as well as charter brokerage and consultancy. We then hope to receive a Saudi AOC before looking at FBOs and Part 145 MRO activities,” Khalek said.

Beirut is at a much earlier stage of development. “The dynamics of that place are quite interesting. It is not as bureaucratic as others but more political.”

He sees Sharjah as a long-term investment. “Sharjah has significant potential and opportunity. It is a good location with good access on the ramp. The airport is committed to wanting to attract and service business aviation at the airport.

“We have the knowhow of what customers want. Airports have to be focused on delivery of that product. Trying to get airline service providers to do five or six business aircraft doesn’t work. They are not attentive enough. That creates a vicious circle because if people don’t get attentive service, they won’t come back.

“We say we can service that demand with the quality demanded. It requires investment and we willing to invest. To make it a viable business we need exclusivity and so we are working with Sharjah in partnership.”

The two sides are concluding a review about developing the most advantageous location for an FBO and MRO facility that fits in with the long-term plans for the airport. “It is exciting times,” Khalek said.