Barbados and the United Arab Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding on 22 October 2025 securing Emirati financing for a US$147 million overhaul of Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) in Bridgetown. The deal, which also involves Chilean logistics firm Agencias Universales S.A., will deliver a new passenger terminal, runway expansion and smart-gate technology compatible with UAE standards.
For the UAE, the investment strengthens its footprint in Caribbean aviation infrastructure and aligns with its strategy of exporting airport-operations expertise developed in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Barbados gains a modernised gateway capable of accommodating larger long-haul aircraft—potentially including direct Emirates or Etihad services in the future.
From a mobility standpoint, the project promises shorter connection times for travellers transiting between the Middle East and Latin America via the Caribbean, and it may open new one-stop routings attractive to multinational firms with regional headquarters in Dubai.
Construction is slated to begin in Q1 2026 with completion expected by late 2028. The partners will implement a joint-training programme for Barbadian airport staff in the UAE, creating exchange opportunities for aviation professionals and reinforcing the two countries’ economic ties.
Global-mobility teams should monitor route-development announcements; direct or codeshare flights could reshape travel-policy costings and per-diem structures for assignments in the Caribbean basin.
For the UAE, the investment strengthens its footprint in Caribbean aviation infrastructure and aligns with its strategy of exporting airport-operations expertise developed in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Barbados gains a modernised gateway capable of accommodating larger long-haul aircraft—potentially including direct Emirates or Etihad services in the future.
From a mobility standpoint, the project promises shorter connection times for travellers transiting between the Middle East and Latin America via the Caribbean, and it may open new one-stop routings attractive to multinational firms with regional headquarters in Dubai.
Construction is slated to begin in Q1 2026 with completion expected by late 2028. The partners will implement a joint-training programme for Barbadian airport staff in the UAE, creating exchange opportunities for aviation professionals and reinforcing the two countries’ economic ties.
Global-mobility teams should monitor route-development announcements; direct or codeshare flights could reshape travel-policy costings and per-diem structures for assignments in the Caribbean basin.
