Vista Reports Record Private Aviation Growth in the Region Ahead of Dubai Airshow 2025

Company data showed that program hours sold in the Middle East increased by 48% year-on-year during the first half of the year. Meanwhile, additional hours surged by 111%. This reflects a clear rise in demand for private aviation solutions among business leaders and investors in the region.

Upward trajectory

Vista also maintained its upward trajectory in the third quarter of the year. Flight hours grew by 7%, and the number of flights increased by 11% compared to the same period in 2024. This performance was driven in particular by the growing contribution of its operations in Saudi Arabia. It followed obtaining a local Air Operator Certificate this year. The city of Jeddah alone recorded a 37% increase in flight activity during the third quarter.

At the GCC level, the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates registered 12% growth in private aviation activity during the third quarter. In the UAE, Abu Dhabi stood out with a 54% increase in flight hours in the first half of 2025. Meanwhile, Bahrain recorded a 24% rise in flight hours during the same period. This underscores the growing role of private aviation in the region’s business and investment hubs.

Since obtaining its local operating certificate in Saudi Arabia last August, VistaJet has become the first global private aviation company licensed to operate domestic flights within the Kingdom. This has enabled the company to offer faster and more flexible travel options for entrepreneurs within the Saudi market. It also connects the market more effectively with the rest of the Gulf region.

Mazen Obeid, Vista’s President for the Middle East, said the group’s regional expansion “reflects the transformation of private aviation from a mere luxury service into a strategic enabler of business, connectivity, and investment.” He affirmed the company’s continued commitment to delivering strong operational capabilities and high reliability. Whether through its expansion in Saudi Arabia or its support for the global business ecosystem in the UAE, Vista remains dedicated.

Vista’s 2030 strategy is built on three main pillars:

• Expanding its network of regional and domestic destinations across GCC countries to provide faster connectivity between key business and lifestyle hubs such as Dubai, Riyadh, and Bahrain.
• Sustainable growth through an innovation-led, customer-centric model and flexible membership programs, alongside a floating fleet that ensures aircraft availability worldwide.
• Digital and in-flight innovation via advanced technology solutions, deeper integration across operating and pricing systems, and its partnership with Gogo to deploy the high-speed, broadband “Gogo Galileo” connectivity system across its fleet.

As part of its commitment to sustainability, Vista has contracted for more than 43 million liters of sustainable aviation fuel. They have also offset over 2.2 million tonnes of emissions on behalf of its clients. Additionally, they publish annual greenhouse gas reports and disclosures aligned with the climate-related financial disclosure framework.

Vista’s Dubai headquarters continues to play a pivotal role as a strategic hub for its global operations. It links the fast-growing private aviation market in the Middle East with Europe, the United States, and Asia. The UAE remains one of the group’s most active markets. It benefits from global capital flows and growing institutional demand for travel. There is also strong activity from investors based in Dubai. At Dubai Airshow 2025, Vista is set to showcase its latest service innovations, sustainability initiatives, and developments in in-flight connectivity. This reflects the growing role of private aviation in shaping the future of travel in the region and beyond.