Dubai, UAE – The UAE’s aviation sector continues to consolidate its position as one of the strategic pillars of the national economy, and as an advanced global model in governance, innovation and sustainability.
Supported by a vision led by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, which integrates regulatory policies, advanced infrastructure, international partnerships, and the development of national competencies.
At a time when UAE airports continued to achieve record performance results in terms of passenger numbers.
The Dubai Airshow also had an exceptional session in terms of achievements and announced deals.
During 2025, the sector witnessed a series of qualitative achievements that consolidated its role in enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy and supporting vital sectors including trade.
In addition to tourism, logistics services, and supply chains, in addition to its direct and indirect contribution of up to 18% of the GDP.
In January 2025, the General Authority of Civil Aviation launched the National Unified Drone Platform, an interactive digital platform that aims to organize and record drone operations, introduce the requirements for their use, and ensure compliance with laws and procedures that achieve the safety of individuals and property.
In April, the Authority issued design approval for the world’s first hybrid helipad, as part of the «Airplane Taxi» project in Abu Dhabi.
In July, it also issued the world’s first regulation of hybrid operations.
Which enables electric vertical take-off and landing «eVTOL» aircraft and conventional helicopters to operate interchangeably on a single infrastructure.
UAE airports continued to achieve record performance results in terms of passenger numbers during the first nine months of 2025.
Abu Dhabi Airports, Dubai International Airport, and Sharjah International Airport recorded about 108.59 million passengers as of the end of September.
In turn, the Dubai Airshow achieved an exceptional session in terms of achievements and announced deals.
«Emirates Airlines» announced the start of implementing a comprehensive plan to install the «Starlink» high-speed Internet service on all aircraft in its fleet in service, starting in November 2025, on «Boeing 777» aircraft.
The project will be fully completed by mid-2027.
It also announced an order to purchase 65 additional Boeing 777 «Boeing» aircraft worth $38 billion.
It also ordered eight additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft «AUST» worth $3.4 billion at current prices.
150 planes for Flydubai
For its part, «Flydubai» signed a memorandum of understanding with «Airbus» to purchase 150 «A321neo» aircraft.
Which makes it a new customer for the company’s aircraft, and it also signed a memorandum of understanding with «Boeing» to purchase 75 «Boeing 737 MAX» aircraft worth $13 billion.
For its part, Etihad Airways announced during the exhibition a major expansion in its fleet of wide-body aircraft, with the addition of 32 new Airbus aircraft.
This accelerates the company’s growth and strengthens its position as one of the fastest growing airlines in the world.
The agreement includes a group of aircraft «A350-1000», cargo aircraft «A350F», and aircraft «A330-900» under direct purchase orders and lease agreements.
The first deliveries will begin in 2027, which is among the first periods of availability of wide-body aircraft on the global market.
Active global presence
The UAE has strengthened its influential presence in the global civil aviation system, after winning membership in the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization «ICAO» for the seventh time in a row.
The organization also re-elected Hamad Salem Al Muhairi, Assistant Director General for Aviation Security Affairs at the General Authority of Civil Aviation, as Chairman of the organization’s Civil Aviation Security Experts Committee for the third year.
The First Director of the Environmental Affairs Office at the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Engineer Maryam Al Balushi, was elected Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Protection in «ICAO».
To become the first specialist from the Middle East to hold this position.
