Montréal, Canada, has been recognized as the permanent seat of ICAO since 1946. Canada and ICAO are currently discussing an arrangement covering the lease of the ICAO Headquarters premises, which would be effective from 1 December 2016 through 30 November 2036.
The State of Qatar recently presented ICAO with an offer to serve as the new permanent seat of the Organization, also beginning in 2016. ICAO’s consideration of the Qatar proposal stems from our official obligations under Article 45 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944) and an ICAO Assembly Resolution (A8-5) regarding Consideration of proposals to move the permanent seat.
These provisions stipulate that the Qatar offer must be considered by all of ICAO’s 191 Member States at the next convening of the triennial ICAO Assembly, which will take place from 24 September through 4 October of this year. A minimum of three-fifths (60%) of ICAO’s Member States must agree to the Qatar proposal for it to be approved.
