Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the 2026 Airports Forum as the Middle East enters a period of major investment, technological development and infrastructure expansion across the aviation sector.

The forum will take place on November 30 and December 1, 2026, at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center. It will feature four concurrent conferences covering global aviation issues, investment, airport design and construction, and women’s participation in aviation.

The event comes amid rapid growth in the region’s aviation infrastructure. According to the latest Airports Council International (ACI) data cited by organisers, airport development spending across the Middle East has reached around $180 billion, while air connectivity in the region is expected to increase by 21% in 2025.

The forum programme will examine issues including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced air mobility, airport investment, smart infrastructure, sustainability, passenger experience and future workforce requirements.

Global aviation issues

The Global Aviation Issues Conference will focus on airport security, air traffic management and emerging technologies affecting aviation operations.

Sessions will examine artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, passenger and baggage screening, operational resilience and workforce development. Discussions will also cover airspace capacity, automation, international coordination and the integration of drones and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Participating organisations include the International Civil Aviation Organization, GACA, MATARAT Holding, Riyadh Air, Etihad Airways, IATA, SITA, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority and the Saudi Civil Aviation Academy.

Investment and financing

The Future of Aviation Investment Conference on November 30 will examine financing requirements for the next phase of aviation development in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.

Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, discussions will cover public-private partnerships, airport concession models, investor confidence and infrastructure investment. The programme will also examine capital trends across airports, airlines, air cargo, aircraft leasing and maintenance, repair and overhaul services.

Sustainable aviation finance, green bonds, ESG-linked investment and funding opportunities for eVTOL and drone infrastructure will also feature.

Organisations taking part include the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Saudi Arabia, daa International, Sofia Airport, the National Center for Privatization & PPP, Oman Airports and Avilis.

Airport design and construction

The Airport Design and Construction Conference on December 1 will focus on infrastructure requirements for the aviation sector’s expansion.

Topics will include new airports, terminal development, digital twins, automation and connected passenger journeys. Speakers will also address how airport projects can balance capacity, operational efficiency, sustainability, technology and changing passenger expectations.

The conference will explore the role of local identity in airport design and challenges associated with large-scale developments, including procurement, risk management, phased construction and maintaining airport operations during expansion.

Participants include King Salman International Airport, Gensler, Mott MacDonald, Riyadh Air, Foster + Partners and Grimshaw.

Women and the aviation workforce

The Women in Aviation General Assembly will conclude the forum on December 1, with discussions focused on leadership, workforce development and women’s participation in the aviation industry.

Sessions will examine the role of Saudi Vision 2030 in supporting women in aviation, alongside artificial intelligence, digital transformation, future skills, talent development, gender diversity and career opportunities.

Focus on Hajj aviation operations

The programme will also feature a dedicated session on the management of large-scale Hajj operations at Jeddah airports.

Experts in planning, airport operations, passenger experience, communications and emergency response will discuss the systems and practices used to manage the movement of millions of pilgrims during the annual Hajj season.

Industry dialogue in Riyadh

Daksha Patel, Events Director at Niche Ideas, said the aviation industry was undergoing significant changes across airport financing, infrastructure, technology, operations and workforce development.

She said the Airports Forum would bring together international industry figures and potential partners to exchange knowledge, address common challenges and explore opportunities linked to the region’s aviation expansion.

As Saudi Arabia continues to pursue its aviation objectives under Vision 2030, organisers said the four conferences will provide a platform for decision-makers and specialists in investment, technology, operations, design, policy and talent development.

The event is also expected to bring aviation leaders, investors and experts to Riyadh to discuss regional and global developments and potential areas for cooperation.

Source: AJEL.SA

Global engineering and professional services firm WSP has secured the design contract for the expansion and development of King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

The project will cover the expansion of passenger terminals, facility upgrades and improvements to airport entrances and access roads. The scope also includes new baggage handling systems, digital services and terminal wayfinding solutions designed to simplify passenger journeys and improve comfort, Dammam Airports said.

Under the master plan, the airport is expected to handle more than 19.3 million passengers annually by 2030. Capacity will then be expanded in phases to reach 32 million passengers per year in response to future demand.

The development also targets annual air cargo capacity of more than 600,000 tonnes and an aircraft operating capacity of 77 movements per hour. These improvements will be supported by extensive upgrades to airport infrastructure, runways and general aviation facilities.

The agreement was signed by Dammam Airports CEO Eng. Mohammed Al Hassany and Dean McGrail, President of WSP for the Middle East and Asia.

Al Hassany described the contract as an important milestone in the airport’s development and said Dammam Airports remains focused on modernising its facilities and expanding capacity.

He added that the project will use modern design solutions and smart technologies to improve the passenger experience while accommodating expected growth in both passenger and cargo traffic.

The expansion is also intended to strengthen King Fahd International Airport’s role as a major international gateway connecting Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region with destinations around the world.

Source: TradeArabia

Egypt has advanced the tender process for the management, operation and development of Hurghada International Airport under a public-private partnership (PPP), the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

Ten consortia submitted applications to participate in the tender, with seven qualifying for the next stage following an assessment of their applications and supporting documents by a specialised evaluation committee. The review was conducted according to the criteria outlined in the request for qualifications (RFQ).

The update was announced during a meeting between Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh El-Hefny and Ary Naïm, the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Division Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the El Alamein International Air Show (EIAS 2026).

El-Hefny said the project supports the government’s efforts to strengthen Egypt’s civil aviation sector, improve passenger services and enhance the overall travel experience.

He highlighted the importance of the PPP programme in improving operational efficiency and modernising airport infrastructure and services in accordance with international standards and best practices.

The minister said the partnership model is intended to maximise value for the state while drawing on specialised technical and management expertise. State ownership and full sovereignty over the airport’s assets will remain unchanged, he added.

El-Hefny also welcomed the IFC’s technical and advisory assistance, noting the organisation’s international experience in structuring and implementing PPP projects.

Naïm reaffirmed the IFC’s commitment to working with Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation to help complete the tender process in line with international standards.

The seven qualified consortia are now being informed about the next phase, which will involve issuing request for proposals (RFP) documents and setting the timetable and procedures for bid submissions, subject to approval in the forthcoming stage.

In July, the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) cited an IFC regional director as saying that Egypt was expected to announce the first results of its airport public offering programme before the end of the year.

Source: Arab Finance

A shortage of air traffic controllers caused flight cancellations and significant delays at Sydney Airport on Friday morning, according to Airservices Australia, the federal agency responsible for managing the country’s air traffic.

Airservices Australia introduced temporary measures to control traffic flows and safely manage demand after an unexpected staffing shortfall. The restrictions resulted in around 14 inbound flight cancellations, while some flights were delayed by more than an hour.

The disruption adds to a series of operational challenges facing Australia’s busiest airport as Airservices Australia continues to deal with staffing shortages. It also comes as authorities investigate several recent near-miss incidents involving aircraft at the airport.

Peter Curran, Deputy Chief Executive of Airservices Australia, told a Senate committee examining the aviation sector that unexpected absenteeism had affected staffing levels.

“Last night, at relatively short notice, we had some unplanned absenteeism, which we weren't able to recover from,” Curran said. He added that having one fewer controller in the tower that morning had contributed to significant delays.

The traffic management measures were withdrawn at 8:15 a.m. local time, or 2215 GMT on Thursday, after operating conditions improved. Minor delays persisted through the remainder of the morning, but flight schedules had largely returned to normal by the afternoon.

An Airservices Australia spokesperson said the agency was coordinating with airlines to minimise delays and reduce the impact on passengers.

Sydney has 49 air traffic controllers, but 41 are required for normal operations. Curran said eight controllers were unavailable because of long-term absences, leaving limited capacity to handle unexpected staffing shortages.

“We've had some staffing challenges in the last number of weeks since July ... and we have some moments where that can become somewhat acute. Today's an example of that,” he said.

Airservices Australia said it was working to recruit additional air traffic controllers and improve arrangements for bringing in extra staff when operational pressures increase.

Source: Reuters

Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Programme (ACP) has signed a cooperation agreement with Delta Air Lines aimed at expanding direct air links between the Kingdom and the United States.

The agreement, signed during WTM Spotlight Riyadh, supports plans for Delta to introduce direct flights between Riyadh and Atlanta. The new connection is expected to give US travellers greater access to Saudi Arabia while providing additional travel options between the two countries.

The planned service is expected to provide more than 85,000 round-trip seats each year and will be operated with Airbus A350 aircraft.

ACP CEO Ahmed Albrahim said the partnership represents an important step in strengthening direct connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the US.

According to Albrahim, the Riyadh-Atlanta route will also connect travellers to Delta’s broader North American network, improving access to Saudi Arabia from key international markets.

He said partnerships with major global airlines support ACP’s strategy of developing routes with significant strategic and economic value. Such connections, he added, can provide passengers with access to wider international networks rather than serving only as direct links between two cities.

Albrahim said ACP will continue working with aviation and tourism partners to attract more international airlines and increase seat capacity from priority markets.

The agreement is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to expand international air connectivity, establish direct links with key markets and advance the Kingdom’s tourism and aviation objectives under Vision 2030.

Source: ZAWYA

Dubai Airports expects Dubai International Airport (DXB) to handle about 70 million passengers in 2026, a significant reduction from its earlier forecast of nearly 100 million, CEO Paul Griffiths said on Thursday.

The revision follows the Iran war and temporary closures of Gulf airspace, which disrupted flight operations across the region and forced the airport operator to abandon its previous passenger target.

DXB recorded 31.5 million passengers during the first half of 2026, compared with 46 million in the same period a year earlier. Griffiths said airport capacity has since recovered to 84% of pre-war levels, while passenger volumes have reached 78%.

The expected return of several European airlines that suspended regional services because of the conflict has helped underpin the revised outlook. Griffiths said he expects operations to be "pretty much back" to normal by the end of the year.

He added that both transfer and point-to-point travel markets remain strong, while business travel continues to perform well.

India, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom continue to be Dubai's leading passenger markets, according to Griffiths.

Looking beyond 2026, he said advances in smaller, longer-range aircraft could enable DXB to expand its network further. The airport currently has direct connections to around 240 cities, a figure that could rise by mid-2027.

Griffiths said Dubai Airports is already in discussions with airlines about launching routes between Dubai and cities in Europe and Africa that currently have no direct services.

The disruption caused by the conflict could also influence the design of Dubai's planned new airport, he said, with possible changes aimed at making the facility more resilient to future disruptions.

Source: ZAWYA