Dubai Airshow special edition reinforces UAE's position as major global aerospace hub

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the eighteenth edition of the Dubai Airshow witnessed a record exceptional edition, the largest in its history since its inception, in light of the wide range of deals announced and enhanced the show's position and global importance at the industry level.

The 18th edition of the exhibition showcased the commitment of the aerospace, aerospace and defense sectors towards growth and development, as the value of deals launched from Dubai and concluded during the exhibition exceeded 101 billion US dollars, while this edition welcomed more than 135,000 visitors, a 30% growth in the number of visitors compared to the last edition, with the attendance of 148 countries and more than 1,400 exhibitors, representing leading manufacturers, producers, decision-makers and specialists in the aerospace industries from around the world gathered in Dubai. To foresee the future and sustainability of the sector.

The edition, which took place at Dubai World Central, saw a host of significant deals, most notably a deal for Emirates to purchase an additional 95 wide-body Boeing 777-9, 777-8 and 787 aircraft worth $52 billion on the first day of the show, which drives the company's growth plans, and a deal worth US$6 billion to purchase an additional 15 A350-900 aircraft during the show. flydubai also announced the purchase of 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

Ethiopian Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to add 11 Airbus A350-900 aircraft to its fleet of aircraft, reinforcing Ethiopian Airlines' position as one of the leading A350 customers in Africa. The company also announced its commitment to order 11 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with the possibility of purchasing 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 21 additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Air Baltic revealed that it has signed a deal to buy 30 A220 aircraft, becoming the owner of the largest fleet of A220s in Europe.

Tawazun Council, an independent government entity that works closely with the Ministry of Defense and security entities to increase value through acquisition systems, announced the signing of contracts with local and international companies worth AED 23.06 billion. These contracts included a contract with Halcon for the purchase of munitions worth AED 2.14 billion, two contracts with International Golden Group (IGG), the first worth AED 338 million to provide technical support for aircraft, and the second for the purchase of aircraft engines and spare parts in the UAE worth AED 13 million.

The eighteenth edition of the Dubai Airshow witnessed a greater focus on space and future technologies, as the UAE Space Agency revealed during its participation in the exhibition the timeline for the flight of the UAE spacecraft MBR Explorer to explore the asteroid belt. Other key announcements unveiled during the show included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) with Annan, a leading UAE technology company driving the transformation of transport through advanced air mobility services. Dubai Airports, the operator of the world's largest international airport, also announced its partnership with Intelak, the leading innovation platform supporting Dubai's travel, tourism and aviation startups.

Timothy Howes, Managing Director of Tarsus Middle East, said: "This year's Dubai Airshow is one of the industry's most prominent exhibitions, with the unveiling of innovations, important announcements, sustainable technological development, and deals worth more than US$100 billion. The eighteenth edition of the exhibition provided all participants with a global platform to showcase the promising future that awaits the sector, as well as opportunities for growth, partnerships and enhanced global cooperation."

Directed by BGI would like to thank the wise leadership of the UAE for its great support for the eighteenth edition of the Dubai Airshow, and for its confidence and wise guidance that have established the UAE as one of the most important and prominent countries in the world in the field of aviation development, in addition to being a global destination for innovation and development."

The next edition of the Dubai Airshow will take place in 2025 at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai World Central (DWC).