Hadid

What Hadid does

Hadid International Services (HADID) is a Dubai-headquartered aviation services company founded in 1981 by Baha Eddin Hadid, currently chaired by Mohamad Hadid, and privately held with no disclosed external investors. The firm originated as the first flight support company in the MENA region and has built a global footprint spanning 181 countries and 1,500+ airports, executed through eight directly-operated offices (Dubai, UK, USA, China, Pakistan, India, Niger, France), a worldwide supervisory-agent network, and a 24/7 operations control centre. Service lines are organised around the end-to-end trip: flight permits (overflight, landing, diplomatic, EU TCO, USA TSA Waiver, eAPIS), international flight planning (IFP), ground support (handling, fuelling with EU VAT reclamation, concierge), air charter brokerage (VIP, MEDEVAC, cargo, helicopter), navigation fee settlement, and discrete governmental flight support for diplomatic, military, UN, and NGO clients.

The technology backbone is HADID COMPASS, a proprietary in-house flight management and CRM system built to handle thousands of international flights, now integrated with Leon Software for real-time flight scheduling, crew management, and dispatch, with planned further integrations with FuelerLinx and ForeFlight. The company also operates HADID Riviera, a premium FBO at Villanova d'Albenga, Italy, near Monaco. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via regional directors across Africa & ME, Asia, South East Asia, Pakistan, and the Americas, supplemented by participation in EBACE, MEBAA, Aviation Africa, and the Arab Aviation Summit. Revenue is generated predominantly through professional-services fees on per-request flight support, charter transaction fees, and managed services for FBO operations; pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Recent strategic activity indicates a deliberate expansion phase: in 2024, HADID expanded into Djibouti and signed MOUs with both Intercontinental Aviation Enterprise (for an aviation training academy) and the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority; in February 2025 it acquired a 50% stake in the resulting Intercontinental Aviation Academy GCC joint venture and finalised the COMPASS-Leon integration; at EBACE 2025 it announced a five-country Southeast Asia expansion. The company reports 251-500 employees, has closed legacy operations in Iran (2008) and Syria (2011), and serves 98 major airlines (seasonal permit clients in 2024) alongside private operators and governmental missions.

Name

Hadid

Legal name

Hadid International Services

Website

https://hadid.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

HADID International Services is a Dubai-based, privately-held aviation support provider founded in 1981 offering flight permits, planning, ground handling, charter, navigation fee settlement, and governmental flight support across 181 countries to commercial airlines, private operators, and diplomatic clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Flight Permits: HADID arranges overflight and landing permits for all flight types worldwide, including schedule and block permits, temporary landing permits, diplomatic permits, EU TCO authorisation, and special clearances (USA TSA Waiver, USA eAPIS, CARICOM, UAE API). Revenue earned through service fees tied to permit processing.
2. Ground Support Services: Full ground handling services including handling, fuelling, and concierge services supported by a global network of trusted partners and HADID staff on-ground at key airports. Fuelling includes VAT exemption and reclamation programs across Europe. Revenue generated through service fees.
3. Air Charter Services: Bespoke air charter solutions covering VIP, CIP, PIP, royal, business/corporate, commercial passenger, MEDEVAC, cargo, helicopter, and empty legs. HADID manages all aspects from aircraft arrangement to flight planning and regulatory compliance.
4. Flight Planning (IFP): International Flight Planning services using in-house systems and software, providing optimisation for time, fuel, and cost savings. Services include crew briefings, EROPS/LROPS planning, ATC filings, route planning, runway analysis, and flight watch. Billed as part of integrated flight support packages.
5. Navigation Support: Settlement of navigation fees with worldwide Civil Aviation Authorities, reviewing CAA invoices for accuracy, currency exchange, and payment processing. Recommended as a supplementary service to complete flight support programs.
6. Governmental Flight Support: Specialised services for Diplomatic Missions, Heads of State, Air Forces, UN Missions, Chartered Diplomatic Delegations, Ministries and NGOs, covering both cargo and passenger flights. Operates with heightened confidentiality and rapid response capabilities.
7. FBO / Executive Aviation Terminal Management: Operation and management of executive aviation terminals and FBOs including HADID Riviera at Villanova d'Albenga, Italy. Provides luxury lounge facilities, fast-track customs and immigration, professional ground support and hospitality services to General Aviation clients.
8. Concierge Services: Bespoke VIP services including hotel bookings, VIP transportation, meet and greet, visa assistance, travel insurance, fine dining, security, car rentals, tours, spa treatments, and chauffeured limousines. Offered as part of premium flight support packages.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hadid International Services (HADID) is an on-demand aviation support company providing integrated flight support services to commercial airlines, private operators, governments, and NGOs. Its core offerings include flight permits (overflight, landing, diplomatic, TSA waivers), international flight planning, ground support (handling, fuelling with VAT reclamation, concierge), air charter, navigation fee settlement, and specialised governmental flight support. These services are delivered through regional offices, a global supervisory agent network, and the proprietary HADID COMPASS flight management system.

Product overview

HADID International Services is an aviation support services company founded in 1981, headquartered in Dubai. The company offers a portfolio of integrated flight support services organized around its core offerings: Flight Permits, Flight Planning, Ground Support (handling, fuelling, concierge), Air Charter, Navigation Support, and Governmental Flight Support. The proprietary HADID COMPASS flight management system serves as the technology backbone, integrating with partners like Leon Software to deliver optimized operations. HADID also operates HADID Riviera, a premium FBO facility in Italy near Monaco, providing executive aviation terminal management. The company recently expanded into aviation training through the Intercontinental Aviation Academy GCC partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flight Permits Arrangement of overflight and landing permits for all flight types worldwide, including schedule and block permits, temporary landing permits, diplomatic permits, EU TCO authorisation, and special clearances (USA TSA Waiver, USA eAPIS, CARICOM, UAE API). Targets commercial airlines, private operators, and governmental clients with faster-than-regulatory-average lead times.
• Flight Planning International Flight Planning (IFP) using in-house systems and software, providing optimisation for time, fuel, and cost savings. Services include crew briefings, EROPS/LROPS planning, ATC filings, route planning, runway analysis, and flight watch. Offered as part of integrated flight support packages.
• Ground Support Comprehensive ground handling services including handling, fuelling (with VAT exemption and reclamation programs across Europe), and concierge services (CIQ assistance, hotel bookings, transportation, meet and greet, visa assistance, security). Delivered through a global network of trusted partners and HADID staff on-ground at key airports.
• Air Charter Bespoke air charter solutions covering VIP, CIP, PIP, royal, business/corporate, commercial passenger, MEDEVAC, cargo, helicopter, and empty legs. Includes fractional jet ownership options. HADID manages all aspects from aircraft arrangement to flight planning and regulatory compliance.
• Navigation Support Settlement of navigation fees with worldwide Civil Aviation Authorities, reviewing CAA invoices for accuracy, currency exchange, and payment processing. Recommended as a supplementary service to complete flight support programs.
• Governmental Flight Support Specialised services for Diplomatic Missions, Heads of State, Air Forces, UN Missions, Chartered Diplomatic Delegations, Ministries and NGOs, covering both cargo and passenger flights. Operates with heightened confidentiality and rapid response capabilities.
• HADID COMPASS Proprietary in-house flight management system and CRM developed by HADID, capable of handling thousands of international flights. Originally pioneering at time of development, the system now provides flight scheduling, crew management, dispatch, permit management, and customer relationship management, and integrates with Leon Software for automated real-time data exchange.
• HADID Riviera FBO Premium FBO (Fixed Base Operator) facility at Riviera Airport (LIMG) in Villanova d'Albenga, Italy. Offers executive aviation terminal services, luxury lounge facilities, fast-track CIQ, helicopter transfers to Monaco, and full ground support for General Aviation travellers.

Quantifiable outcome

• HADID arranges permits in shorter than official/regulatory average lead-times.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Intercontinental Aviation Academy GCC (IAA GCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2025HADID acquired 50% stake in IAA GCC, established as a joint venture with IAE. IAA GCC chose Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RKT/OMRK) as its primary training hub in the GCC. Partnership formalised at Arab Aviation Summit 2025. Student registrations opened March 1, 2025, with first cohort in September 2025.
• Leon SoftwarecoreTechnology or Integration · 13 February 2025Integration between HADID COMPASS (HADID's proprietary flight management system) and Leon Software enables automated real-time data exchange for flight scheduling, crew management, and dispatch. The integration reduces manual data entry, minimises errors, and improves communication between HADID's team and air carriers.
• Intercontinental Aviation Enterprise (IAE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2024HADID and IAE signed an MOU to jointly develop the Intercontinental Aviation Academy in the UAE. The academy will provide comprehensive aviation training from entry-level courses to ATPL programs, leveraging HADID's global network and IAE's training expertise. First students expected in Q4 2025.
• Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2024HADID and BCAA signed an MOU for strategic partnership to enhance convenience and efficiency for global clientele, particularly those involved in operations to Bermuda or contemplating offshore aircraft registration in the territory. Combines HADID's flight support expertise with BCAA's regulatory oversight capabilities.
• Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 January 2022MoU signed during EXPO2020 Dubai to promote Malaysia's healthcare sector in the Middle East market and ASEAN region to HADID's international client base. HADID leverages its aviation and travel expertise to connect clients with Malaysian healthcare providers for medical tourism purposes.
• Riviera Airport S.p.A.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHADID formed a partnership with Riviera Airport S.p.A. to operate HADID Riviera, an executive aviation terminal/FBO at Villanova d'Albenga, Italy. Riviera Airport is privately owned and exclusive to General Aviation, located near Monaco.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Universal Weather & Aviation: Universal Weather & Aviation is the world's largest flight support / trip support company, providing international flight planning, weather, permitting, ground support, and charter services to business and commercial operators globally — directly comparable to HADID's full-service flight support model.
• Jet Aviation: Jet Aviation is a leading global provider of FBOs, aircraft management, charter, MRO, and ground handling services, serving the same enterprise and private aviation client base as HADID with a comparable integrated service model.
• TAG Aviation: TAG Aviation operates FBOs, charter, aircraft management, and handling services across Europe and Asia with a similar premium-service positioning — directly comparable to HADID's FBO-led, charter-brokered, full-service flight support offering.
• ExecuJet / Luxaviation: ExecuJet Aviation Group (now part of Luxaviation) operates a global network of FBOs, charter, aircraft management, MRO, and ground handling services — overlapping with HADID's charter brokerage, ground support, and FBO operations across emerging markets and Europe.
• Gama Aviation: Gama Aviation is a UK-headquartered aviation services group providing FBO, charter, aircraft management, and ground handling across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia — a directly comparable mid-sized integrated aviation support peer.
• Aviapartner: Aviapartner is a leading European aviation services group operating FBOs, ground handling, fueling, and passenger services at major airports — directly comparable to HADID's ground handling, fueling, and FBO activities, particularly across European operations.
• DC Aviation: DC Aviation is a Germany-based business aviation services company operating FBOs, charter, aircraft management, and handling at Stuttgart and other European airports — comparable in service portfolio and target customer base to HADID's European operations.

Broad incumbents

• Signature Flight Support: Signature Flight Support operates the largest global FBO network with hundreds of locations, offering fueling, ground handling, and charter services — a broader incumbent that overlaps HADID's ground handling, FBO, and charter brokerage offerings at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Falcon Aviation Services: Falcon Aviation Services is a UAE-headquartered operator providing VIP charter, FBO, helicopter, and MRO services across the Middle East — a regional competitor serving the same Gulf-based enterprise and private aviation clients as HADID.

Others

• FlightAware (Jeppesen / Boeing): FlightAware, part of Boeing/Jeppesen, provides digital flight tracking, planning, and aviation data services to operators worldwide — adjacent enabling vendor whose products compete with the flight planning and dispatch elements of HADID's service stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hadid-international-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/flyiaa.uae
• Xx.com/HADIDINT
• Facebookfacebook.com/Hadid.International.Services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hadid