The Middle East will need more than 3,800 new passenger aircraft over the next 20 years, according to Airbus’ latest Global Market Forecast (GMF).

The forecast projects demand for 2,160 single-aisle and 1,670 widebody aircraft by 2045, as rising air travel, urbanisation and major investments continue to strengthen the region’s role as a global aviation hub.

Passenger traffic to, from and within the Middle East is expected to increase at an annual compound growth rate of 4.7% through 2045, more than doubling over the forecast period.

Airbus said the outlook remains strong despite ongoing disruption across the aviation industry. Existing backlogs for large single-aisle aircraft in the region already account for 45% of projected total demand over the next two decades.

Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus Africa and Middle East, said regional airlines had demonstrated operational resilience despite geopolitical volatility. He attributed future growth to population expansion, rising prosperity and large-scale infrastructure investment, which are prompting carriers to expand and modernise their fleets.

The forecast points to several factors supporting demand. Urbanisation is expected to reach 55% of the region’s population, while the middle class is projected to expand by another 240 million people to reach 620 million.

Air travel frequency is also expected to rise significantly. In Saudi Arabia, trips per person are forecast to increase from 1.6 annually in 2025 to 4.0 by 2045. In the United Arab Emirates, the figure is projected to rise from 3.1 to 6.5 trips per person over the same period.

Large-scale investments in airlines, regional giga-projects and airport infrastructure are also reshaping the region’s aviation landscape. Airbus said these developments are creating new connectivity hubs and supporting growth across the wider aviation ecosystem.

Fleet modernisation is expected to accelerate as well. By 2035, new-generation aircraft are forecast to account for 97% of the Middle Eastern fleet, compared with 45% in 2025. Airbus said the shift will improve fuel efficiency and operational performance while helping reduce emissions.

The Middle East is also expected to become increasingly significant in the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Sovereign investment strategies and ambitious aviation programmes are positioning airlines and other industry stakeholders in the region to become future hubs for SAF production, supporting the aviation sector’s longer-term sustainability objectives.

Source: Oman Daily Observer

Resilience, operational stability and industry collaboration are emerging as key drivers of business aviation growth across the Middle East, with activity increasing in major markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

MedAire, a medical and security response organisation serving the aviation and maritime sectors, said operators are placing greater emphasis on comprehensive risk management, medical assistance and security planning to maintain safe and reliable operations.

The region’s advanced infrastructure, regulatory cooperation and continued investment have helped strengthen its position as a resilient business aviation market. Growing demand is also prompting operators to maintain dependable connectivity for corporate, government, medical and humanitarian missions.

“The Middle East has become one of MedAire’s most active and important regions, and the needs of aviation clients here are growing in both scale and complexity,” said Reely Rajan, Director, India, Middle East & Africa, MedAire.

Rajan said MedAire has expanded its presence beyond Dubai into Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India, bringing its expertise closer to the markets and operations it supports. He added that local knowledge, established relationships and rapid response capabilities are particularly important during medical or security incidents.

MedAire’s Dubai Assistance Centre is one of the organisation’s two 24-hour aviation security platforms, with the other located in Phoenix, Arizona. The Dubai centre provides medical, security and operational risk management support to business and general aviation operators across the region and internationally.

The importance of operational resilience was demonstrated during this year’s regional conflict, when MedAire evacuated its Dubai office while continuing to provide services to customers.

“Every day, the people in our Dubai Assistance Centre turn medical and security expertise into decisions operators can act on, often across borders and under time pressure,” said Peter Tuggey, Managing Director, Aviation Europe, MEA and APAC, MedAire.

Tuggey said the organisation moved its operations after evacuating the Dubai office during the conflict, while continuing to answer calls and manage cases for clients. He described business aviation as an important component of Middle Eastern connectivity, particularly as routes and schedules change rapidly.

Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), said demand for business aviation remains strong. He attributed the growth to economic expansion, increasing private wealth and the development of major aviation hubs in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The region’s growth is also drawing international operators and brokers seeking to establish or expand their businesses in the Middle East. The trend will be reflected in international participation at the upcoming MEBAA Show, which is scheduled for December 8-10.

Operators are simultaneously strengthening partnerships to address changing safety and operational requirements.

DC Aviation Al-Futtaim, a regional business aviation operator, works with MedAire to support passenger and crew wellbeing, operational safety and risk preparedness through medical assistance, security intelligence and specialist guidance.

Clemens Rothmann, Captain and Director Flight Operations at DC Aviation Al-Futtaim, said partnerships such as the company’s relationship with MedAire help provide security intelligence and global operational insights while supporting high standards of passenger and crew safety.

Empire Aviation, which provides aircraft sales, management and charter services, also works with MedAire to support aircraft owners and passengers.

Paul van der Blom, Head of Aircraft Management Services at Empire Aviation, said private aviation depends on close cooperation between specialist service providers. He highlighted the company’s long-standing partnerships, including its relationship with MedAire, as Dubai’s private aviation ecosystem continues to develop.

Across the region, companies are investing in infrastructure, technology and new capabilities to respond to changing customer requirements. Strong regulatory frameworks, specialised aviation services and established infrastructure are providing additional support as operators manage increasingly complex operating conditions.

The continued expansion of business aviation is further strengthening the Middle East’s position in the global market, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar emerging as important centres of activity.

Growing demand from private clients, corporations and other users is creating opportunities for regional and international aviation companies. The MEBAA Show is expected to provide an important forum for industry stakeholders to examine market developments, emerging opportunities and operational challenges.

The event is also expected to encourage further collaboration and partnerships as the region’s business aviation sector continues to develop.

Source: TradeArabia

The Middle East will need more than 3,800 new passenger aircraft over the next 20 years, according to Airbus’ latest Global Market Forecast (GMF).

The forecast projects demand for 2,160 single-aisle and 1,670 widebody aircraft by 2045, as rising air travel, urbanisation and major investments continue to strengthen the region’s role as a global aviation hub.

Passenger traffic to, from and within the Middle East is expected to increase at an annual compound growth rate of 4.7% through 2045, more than doubling over the forecast period.

Airbus said the outlook remains strong despite ongoing disruption across the aviation industry. Existing backlogs for large single-aisle aircraft in the region already account for 45% of projected total demand over the next two decades.

Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus Africa and Middle East, said regional airlines had demonstrated operational resilience despite geopolitical volatility. He attributed future growth to population expansion, rising prosperity and large-scale infrastructure investment, which are prompting carriers to expand and modernise their fleets.

The forecast points to several factors supporting demand. Urbanisation is expected to reach 55% of the region’s population, while the middle class is projected to expand by another 240 million people to reach 620 million.

Air travel frequency is also expected to rise significantly. In Saudi Arabia, trips per person are forecast to increase from 1.6 annually in 2025 to 4.0 by 2045. In the United Arab Emirates, the figure is projected to rise from 3.1 to 6.5 trips per person over the same period.

Large-scale investments in airlines, regional giga-projects and airport infrastructure are also reshaping the region’s aviation landscape. Airbus said these developments are creating new connectivity hubs and supporting growth across the wider aviation ecosystem.

Fleet modernisation is expected to accelerate as well. By 2035, new-generation aircraft are forecast to account for 97% of the Middle Eastern fleet, compared with 45% in 2025. Airbus said the shift will improve fuel efficiency and operational performance while helping reduce emissions.

The Middle East is also expected to become increasingly significant in the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Sovereign investment strategies and ambitious aviation programmes are positioning airlines and other industry stakeholders in the region to become future hubs for SAF production, supporting the aviation sector’s longer-term sustainability objectives.

Source: Oman Daily Observer

Iranian state television confirmed on Sunday that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has passed away. The announcement was made without providing immediate details about the circumstances surrounding his death.

In the wake of this announcement, state media reported that a period of 40 days of public mourning would be observed throughout the country.

The Supreme National Security Council later revealed that Khamenei was killed in his office on Saturday morning. The council further emphasized that his death would ignite a "great uprising against the tyrants of the world."

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had publicly declared Khamenei's death on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling the late leader "one of the most evil people in history."