Global Air Navigation Services

What Global Air Navigation Services does

Global Air Navigation Services LLC (GANS) is a UAE-based air navigation services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabi, operating under the Aviation Division of YAS Holding Group. The company began providing air navigation services on 1 May 2013 and was rebranded from GAL Air Navigation Services to GANS in March 2021. GANS delivers a full spectrum of air traffic management services across 17 ANS provision locations, including the flagship Abu Dhabi International Airport (with Al Ain International, Al Bateen Executive, Delma, and Sir Bani Yas Island airports also in scope), handling approximately 870,000 air traffic movements annually.

The company's core technology stack centres on advanced Air Traffic Management (ATM) infrastructure, notably a Level 4 A-SMGCS (Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System) at Abu Dhabi International Airport, integrated with ATRiCS TowerPad (T-PAD) tower automation, Floating Spacing automated longitudinal separation, Stripless Electronic Clearance Input, and Follow the Greens taxiway-light automation. Complementary capabilities include CNS (Communication, Navigation, Surveillance) engineering, next-generation Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) software developed in the UAE ATM Innovation Lab alongside Thales, meteorological services, aeronautical information management, airspace and flight procedure design, aerodrome safeguarding, aircraft/helicopter MRO support, and ground support equipment. GANS also operates the GANS Training Academy in Al Ain as an ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS Regional Training Centre of Excellence, having trained 8,541 professionals, with structured scholarship programmes for UAE nationals.

GANS operates a B2G/B2B enterprise contract-based revenue model, anchored by a multi-year strategic air navigation services contract with Abu Dhabi Airports (ADAC) covering five airports. Secondary revenue streams include ICAO-compliant training delivery (at the Al Ain Training Centre, via distance learning, and at client premises), CNS/ATM engineering and consultancy services, and MRO/GSE support. Go-to-market is consultative and contract-driven, targeting airport operators, civil aviation authorities, and other ANSPs, supported by strategic partnerships with NATS Middle East, ATRiCS/Frequentis, GCAA, ATNS South Africa, ADIO, and Thales. Customer concentration is high, with ADAC as the dominant client relationship.

Name

Global Air Navigation Services

Legal name

Global Air Navigation Services LLC

Website

https://gans.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Global Air Navigation Services (GANS) is a UAE-based air navigation services provider under YAS Holding Group, delivering air traffic management, CNS/ATM engineering, ICAO-accredited training, and consultancy to airport operators and civil aviation authorities across the UAE, Middle East, and Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Air Navigation Services

NAICS

Air Traffic Control (488111)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Flight Operations Control & Dispatch (OCC/IOCC) (THABAIAA)

Keywords

• Air navigation services
• Air traffic management
• ATM training services
• Aeronautical information management
• CNS engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Air Navigation Services Contracts: GANS provides air traffic management services under long-term strategic contracts with airport operators and civil aviation authorities, including approach surveillance, aerodrome control, and engineering services.
2. Training Services: ICAO-compliant ATM training delivered at the GANS Training Centre in Abu Dhabi, via distance learning, or at client premises. Revenue from course fees for ICAO courses, examiner certifications, and customized training programs.
3. ATM Systems Engineering and Consultancy: CNS/ATM engineering solutions, project management, airspace design, and safety consultancy services provided to airport operators and governments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Global Air Navigation Services (GANS) is a UAE-based air navigation service provider that delivers air traffic control, aeronautical information management, meteorological, CNS/ATM engineering, airspace design, and consultancy services to airport operators and civil aviation authorities across five UAE airports and international clients. The company also operates an ICAO Regional Training Centre of Excellence in Al Ain, providing accredited ATM training, certification, and scholarship programs for air traffic controllers and engineers. Revenue is generated primarily through long-term strategic service contracts with government entities and airport operators.

Product overview

Global Air Navigation Services (GANS) is a UAE-based air navigation services provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected air traffic management services. The core offerings include Air Traffic Services (managing over 870,000 annual movements), ATM Systems & Operations Engineering, ATM Training Services, and Meteorological Services. Additional specialized services encompass Aeronautical Information Management, Airspace and Flight Procedure Design, Aerodrome and Navaid Safeguarding, Aircraft/Helicopter Support, Ground Support Equipment, and Air Traffic Management Consultancy. The company operates from its Training Academy in Al Ain and manages air navigation services across multiple UAE airports including Abu Dhabi International, Al Ain International, Al Bateen Executive, Delma, and Sir Bani Yas Island.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Traffic Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced radio transmissions by average 6 seconds for each arrival and 8 seconds for each departure
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2025MoU signed during DRIFTx 2025 to establish strategic collaboration for shaping future of advanced air mobility (AAM) and accelerating airspace modernization in Abu Dhabi. Focus areas include future design and management of airspace, integration of drones and eVTOLs, and development of regulatory and technical capabilities for next-generation airspace users.
• Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2024Strategic collaboration agreement signed at Aviation Africa Summit in Sandton, South Africa. Collaboration focuses on talent attraction and retention, training services, technology and innovation, lesson learning, and commercial opportunities. Partnership aims to address projected aviation growth from 2.4 billion to 12.4 billion passengers by 2050.
• General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) UAEflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2024Strategic training agreement for provision of training services to GCAA ab-initio air traffic controllers at GANS Training Centre in Al Ain. GANS will deliver customized training programs to strengthen GCAA's operational capabilities and support UAE's vision for aviation safety and innovation leadership.
• Abu Dhabi Airports (ADAC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Strategic long-term air navigation services contract for provision of services at Abu Dhabi Airport's five airports. Scope includes approach surveillance, aerodrome control, air navigation engineering and maintenance, training, project management, safety, quality, aeronautical information, aerodrome safeguarding, and logistics. Represents GANS' largest and most significant client relationship.
• NATS Middle EastflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Strategic framework agreement covering pursuit of mutually beneficial initiatives and projects to increase efficiency and deliver value to customers across the Middle East. Built on collaboration since 2015 including operational improvements with ADAC and Etihad, and eco flight trials. Focus areas include supporting air traffic recovery, operational resilience, and innovative resourcing and technology solutions. Signed at World ATM Congress in Madrid.
• ATRiCS Advanced Traffic Solutions GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 27 October 2021Agreement to jointly develop, promote, and deliver air traffic controller training course for next generation tower automation systems. Cooperation built on successful implementation of TowerPad system at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Aims to establish new training standard for tower automation systems at GANS training centre. ATRiCS is a member of the Frequentis Group.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DSNA (Direction des Services de la Navigation Aérienne): France's ANSP, part of DGAC. Provides ATC, training, CNS engineering, and airspace design — directly mirroring GANS' portfolio — and operates an international consulting business targeting other ANSPs and governments.
• NATS: UK-based air navigation service provider and GANS' strategic partner under a Middle East framework agreement. NATS provides equivalent ATC, engineering, and training services and is the most direct comparable in terms of business model, regulatory standing, and international expansion posture.
• ENAV: Italian ANSP providing air traffic control and airspace management services across Italy and internationally. A comparable full-service ANSP with a publicly listed parent, similar training academy operations, and growing international consulting and technology revenue.
• NAV CANADA: Canada's civil ANSP, one of the largest non-government ANSPs globally. Comparable as a private/non-government ANSP operating advanced ATC, training, and engineering services, and an international thought leader in ANSP commercialization.
• DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung: German ANSP providing air traffic control, training, and engineering services. A directly comparable full-service ANSP with strong technology development and an international consulting arm similar in scope to GANS' consultancy services.
• ATNS South Africa: South African ANSP with which GANS signed a strategic collaboration in 2024. ATNS is a directly comparable state-affiliated ANSP providing air traffic services, training, and engineering across a defined national footprint, mirroring GANS' role in the UAE.

Broad incumbents

• Frequentis: Austrian provider of air traffic management and mission-critical communication solutions, parent of ATRiCS. A direct technology counterpart — supplies the TowerPad platform deployed by GANS and competes globally for the same ATC automation and training simulator opportunities.
• Thales: Global aerospace and ATM technology prime and GANS' partner on next-generation ATFM in the UAE ATM Innovation Lab. Comparable as a provider of CNS/ATM systems, training simulators, and airspace modernization, and as a competitor for the same government ANSP modernization contracts GANS targets.
• Serco Aviation: Global outsourcer operating air traffic control and airport services under contract for governments. Comparable because Serco provides ATC staffing, training, and engineering as a private operator — overlapping with GANS' enterprise service model — but at much larger scale and across multiple geographies.

Emerging players

• Indra: Spanish IT and ATM technology provider with a strong air traffic management franchise (formerly Indra Navia). Comparable as a CNS/ATM systems vendor competing for ANSP modernization contracts; partial overlap because Indra sells technology rather than operating ATC services directly.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gansllc
• LinkedInae.linkedin.com/company/gans
• Instagraminstagram.com/gansllc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Global Air Navigation Services