By 2029, the Middle East aviation market size is projected to reach the US$33.70 billion mark. By 2042, the global passenger traffic will reach nearly 20 billion. 

That year, 45 percent of all passengers are projected to come from the international segment, and 46 percent by 2052, according to the ACI World Airport Traffic Forecasts.  Air passenger traffic in the Africa region is likely to reach 261 million in 2025, and it will double by 2040. The global airports body says Africa’s needs exceed US$32 billion with the pace of needed new greenfield airport investment representing nearly 40 percent of this.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, the B2B platform, the largest in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region, will facilitate global companies to showcase again cutting-edge technologies and innovations designed to better airport operations and safety enhancement, improve passenger experiences and sustainability, and widen automation.

The annual multi-event airport industry platform is being supported among others by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Emirates Airlines, Dubai Air Navigation Services, and dnata. 

London-based analytics company Global Data that tracks airport construction projects says 48 airport renovation, expansion, and new projects were already underway in the Arabian Gulf region, worth US$182.6 billion.

Two massive airport developments are taking place in Dubai and Saudi Arabia that will boast the airport capacities of a whopping 260 million passengers and 185 million passengers per year, respectively. Dubai has started constructing the world’s largest airport terminal, which will cost US$35 billion, with 400 gates and five parallel runways.

As it targets 300 million passengers by 2030, Saudi Arabia is also constructing the US$50-billion mega hub in Riyadh, King Salman International Airport, which it also wants to ultimately become the world’s largest airport for passenger capacity upon its completion in 2030.  These two giant projects take up almost 80 percent of spending on airport development across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).  Saudi Arabia leads the Middle East Airport construction sector with US$7.5 billion in active projects as of 2023. Kuwait follows with US$4.5 billion in active airport projects, with Iraq in third place. 

Abha Airport

The New Abha Airport project, in Saudi Arabia, upon completion, will boast an annual capacity to handle more than 13 million passengers, nearly a tenfold increase from its current capacity of 1.5 million passengers. In Oman, Musandam Airport is being constructed for US$250 million and is expected to be ready by Q4 2026.   The Red Sea International Airport on Saudi Arabia’s west coast is projected to accommodate one million passengers annually upon full completion in 2030, with a peak capacity of 900 passengers per hour. 

Sharjah International Airport

In the UAE, work on the Sharjah International Airport’s terminal is expected to be completed by 2026. Bahrain is evaluating a project to develop a 40-million-passenger capacity international airport terminal that will replace its existing hub.   In Kuwait, a new triangular terminal with 28 gates is expected to increase the airport’s capacity by up to 50 million passengers per year as it will become operational in 2025/2026.  In Iraq, three major airports are expected to open by 2025.  The three-runway Beirut International Airport has plans to reach 20 million passenger capacity in 2030, according to the website of national carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA).  According to CAPA - Centre for Aviation report in August 2024, its terminal will see its capacity go up by one million passengers annually when it opens later in 2025. Egypt hopes to expand the capacity of its airport infrastructure to handle 72.2 million passengers by 2025.

South Asia

In South Asia, the majority of airports are in India, the world’s most populous country.  India has presently a total of 137 airports which includes 24 international airports. Two major airport projects are in different stages of execution in India in Jewar near New Delhi and Navi Mumbai, along with up to 15 other airport projects being in the pipeline.   India, where domestic air passenger traffic is set to reach up to 300 million by 2030, will have up to 240 airports, including heliports and water aerodromes. It plans to invest US$11 billion in airport infrastructure to reach 200 operational airports by 2025-end.

Africa

In Africa, Ethiopia has started the process of having the largest airport in Africa by 2030. Morocco targets a staggering increase  in airport passenger capacity of 80 million annually by 2035 through the expansion and modernisation of existing airport infrastructure. Significantly, the Middle East and Africa airport infrastructure market’s value is expected to reach US$15,308.82 million by 2030.

“The Middle East has remained one of the world’s fastest growing hubs for the civil aviation industry given its unwavering commitment to airport and airline developments and being at the new global travel crossroads. Regional airports have remained leading adaptors of new technologies given their unwavering commitment to airport and airline developments and being at the new global travel crossroads.

Over the past 23 years, the Airport Show has proved itself to be the best platform to source everything crucial that the region’s airports, now numbering 110, require.  The 24th edition of the Airport Show will continue climbing the ladder of spectacular success,” remarked May Ismail, Event Manager at RX, a global company that organises about 400 events across 42 industry sectors in 22 countries including the Airport Show. “For the Middle East airports, the focus is not on surviving but thriving and bringing about tectonic changes to the landscape.”

It is not just the airports that are expanding and improvising.  As of 2023, the 10 largest airlines in the Middle East have collectively ordered 795 new aircraft to be delivered by the end of the decade as the global passenger traffic is expected to reach nearly 20 billion in 2042, double the 2024 projection.

In 2052, global passenger traffic is expected to reach close to 25 billion, approximately 2.5 times the 2024 projection, according to the ACI World Airport Traffic Forecasts (WATF) 2023-2052 that provides insights into the long-term airport traffic demand in over 141 countries across the globe.  By 2040, airports in the Middle East will handle 1.1 billion passengers, with the Middle East and Asia-Pacific accounting for 58 percent of global air passenger demand. IATA says the Middle East airlines earned a record US$23.1 in profit per passenger in 2024, triple the average net profit per passenger for global airlines of US$6.4 in 2024 and US$7.9 in 2023.

Middle East

The Middle East airlines will end 2024 with an estimated US$5.3 billion in net profit, up from a previous forecast of US$3.8 billion, and an increase from US$3.1 billion in net profit in 2023.    Regional airlines, particularly in the Arabian Gulf, have a strong year of profitability amid continued strong demand for air travel in 2024, a push to increase international tourist arrivals, investment in airport upgrades, and government policies designed to boost the aviation sector’s contribution to the GDP.  Airlines in the Middle East are forecast to earn US$5.9 billion in net profit in 2025, with profit per passenger soaring to US$23.9, more than triple the global average of US$7 forecast in 2025.

Cirium, the popular source of aviation analytics, remarked in the latest report: “The region’s aviation industry, long a symbol of ambition and growth, is undergoing a remarkable transformation that promises to reshape the future of air travel. With a commitment to passenger experience, the Middle East is poised to set new standards for the global aviation community.” It added: “Innovation is not limited to the development of new technologies. The Middle East’s aviation industry is also pioneering new approaches to training and passenger experience. In the coming years, expect to see even more groundbreaking advancements emerging from the region.”

It added: “From the development of hydrogen-powered aircraft to the implementation of seamless, touchless travel experiences, the Middle East’s aviation industry is pushing the boundaries. The Middle East’s aviation success story is a testament to the power of vision, collaboration, and innovation. As the region continues to invest in its infrastructure and technologies, it is laying the foundation for a brighter, more sustainable future. With its eyes fixed firmly on the horizon, the Middle East is ready to take the global aviation industry to new heights.”

The services will be provided at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and the contract will span five years.

Adam Boukadida, chief financial officer of Riyadh Air, commented: Our food and beverage offering, both in the air and on the ground, is hugely important for our guests and we aim to set a high benchmark for everyone who travels with Riyadh Air. By selecting Catrion, a company that shares our passion for quality and excellence, it strengthens our commitment to delivering an unparalleled travel experience for our passengers.”

iGA Holding, the parent company of iGA Istanbul Airport, has appointed Atalay Gümrah as its new chief executive officer (CEO).

Gümrah will officially assume his position on January 15th, 2025.

The new state of the art airport terminal is aimed at advancing the socio-economic and cultural interrelation between the domestic regions and beyond providing seamless domestic air transportation service.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said: "We are delighted to announce the completion of this terminal project, which brings an enhanced travel experience to our passengers flying to and from this destination. Our commitment to improving the airport experience across our domestic network drives us to invest in upgrades and renovations like this. We take great pride in delivering this state-of-the-art facility and look forward to offering our passengers an elevated level of comfort and convenience."

Located close to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility, the new lounge provides eligible guests with a space to unwind after completing their U.S. entry formalities and before boarding their flight.

"This new lounge marks another milestone in our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for our guests," said John Wright, chief operations & guest officer at Etihad Airways.

"By combining our premium lounge service with the convenience of U.S. Preclearance, we're offering our guests an elevated journey through Abu Dhabi before they even board their flight. Zayed International is the only Middle East hub to offer this time-saving service.”

Using the 4R strategy (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover), the project aims to minimise the environmental impact of airport operations and set a new standard for sustainable waste management in aviation. Focused on behavioural change, training and stakeholder engagement, the initiative seeks to set a new standard for sustainable waste management in the aviation industry.

Indore Airport is now poised to embrace ‘Zero Waste’ practices through the 4R approach – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover. The new waste processing plant will process the airport’s daily waste of 750 kgs on-site, significantly reducing landfill dependency.

The Zero Waste Project features a cutting-edge Wet Waste Processing Unit that transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. This compost will be utilised to enhance the airport's landscaping. Additionally, a state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility (MRF) will meticulously sort dry waste into 10 distinct categories for recycling. To foster a culture of sustainability, the project includes comprehensive waste segregation practices and public awareness campaigns to encourage responsible waste disposal among passengers and staff.

The project is designed as a self-sustaining model. Income generated from compost and recycled materials will be utilised to fund the salaries of dedicated green workers from the third year onwards, ensuring the project's long-term viability.

The daily average is projected at 274,000 guests, with Friday, December 20, anticipated to be the busiest day of the period, hosting nearly 296,000 guests. The weekend from December 20 to 22 will also see peak activity, with an estimated 880,000 guests passing through.

Essa Al Shamsi, Senior Vice President of Terminal Operations at Dubai Airports, said: "Delivering the exceptional experience that DXB is known for during peak travel periods is always a challenge, but one we are well-prepared to meet with collaboration across the oneDXB family. This year, we are excited to welcome millions of guests while also creating moments of joy through festive activations. The Family Zone at Terminal 3 will transform into a winter wonderland featuring a unique fusion performance of carollers and beatboxers, a Magic Station offering gift-wrapping and photo opportunities, a Nutcracker marching band, and more. These activities are designed to surprise and delight, making every journey through DXB truly memorable."

The Airports Council International (ACI) World, in its annual World Airport Traffic Report, forecasts global passenger traffic to increase by 10 percent, reaching 9.5 billion passengers in 2024, based on data from over 2,700 airports across 180 countries. In 2023, it stood at 8.7 billion, reaching 95 percent of pre-pandemic levels.  By the end of 2024, international passenger traffic will reach 4.1 billion, accounting for 43 percent of total passengers. The domestic passenger traffic is expected to reach 5.4 billion, making up 57 percent of the total.

ACI World further projects that the global airport investment is set to reach US$2,404 billion in 2040 while the Middle East aviation market is due to reach US$33.70 billion size by 2029. Middle Eastern airports are due to spend US$151 billion on the expansion of their capacity and enhancing passenger and cargo facilities.

The best and most effective ways for airports to handle the fast-rising air traffic and the effective deployment of the newest technologies and innovations will be under the spotlight at the Airport Show, the 24th edition of which will be held in 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from May 6 to 8. Unparalleled networking and business opportunities await the industry stakeholders and professionals with a big number of exhibitors coming from all over the world and four major co-located knowledge-enhancing conferences taking place over three days.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Patron of Airport Show, remarked: “Airports are vital connectors and economic engines for communities and countries.”

He added that Dubai, a key hub at the crossroads of global travel, is investing US$35 billion in the second phase of development of the Al Maktoum International – Dubai World Central (DWC) to become the world’s largest airport with a capacity of up to 260 million passengers annually, Sheikh Ahmed said airports across the region are also modernising and expanding to meet growing demand, with a combined project value of over US$1.3 trillion across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.” He asserted that the Airport Show, organized by RX, continues to be a vital stage for business growth and expansion in the airport industry.

By the mid-2030s, ICAO predicts that over 200,000 flights will take off and land daily all over the world. By 2036, the air transport industry will contribute US$1.5 trillion to global GDP. By 2040, airports in the Middle East will handle 1.1 billion passengers, with the Middle East and Asia-Pacific accounting for 58 percent of global air passenger demand.”

The Airport Show is the Middle East, Africa and South Asia’s leading airport exhibition for 110-odd airport operators and their associates in the Middle East. The 2025 edition is expected to have a total of 160 exhibitors from 20+ countries along with more than 6,000 participants from 30+ countries. The show will feature four insightful conferences on its sidelines - the Global Airport Leaders Forum (GALF), Airport Security Middle East, the ATC Forum, and Women in Aviation (WIA). The annual multi-events platform is being supported among others by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Emirates Airlines, Dubai Air Navigation Services, and the Dubai-based global airline and dnata.

May Ismail, Event Manager at RX, a global company that organizes about 400 events across 42 industry sectors in 22 countries including Airport Show, said: “The airport industry’s growth is very bright with ample growth opportunities for almost every stakeholder.  Airports have remained steadfast in their commitment to a safe, sustainable, and thriving air travel sector. In the technology-driven era, the focus for airport operators is on thriving rather than simply surviving. The Airport Show will remain a crucial platform in 2025 too for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region as US$1.3 trillion in airport development projects are readying to take off. The B2B platform will facilitate global companies to showcase their cutting-edge technologies and innovations designed to enhance airport operations, facility expansion, safety enhancement, improve passenger experiences and sustainability, and widen automation.”

A Market Outlook report by Beumer Group, says the airport industry is further optimising airport processes and the passenger experience to “radically change the way we fly.” Airports in 2025, according to the multinational intra-logistic solutions company, will face “increasing capacity challenges” to accommodate the “surge” in global air travel.  They added: “Current bottlenecks, like security checks, will add even more stress to the travel experience unless airports deploy innovative solutions in their processes. At the same time, increased automation is needed to meet the high passenger capacity demands.  Latest technology and automation solutions are reshaping airport operations and improving passenger experience while sustainability strategies are under the spotlight to meet the passenger need for improved Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance.”

Passenger experience at airports is becoming crucial in 2025, which will be a record-breaking year for passenger volume, revenue generation, and setting standards higher. The airport industry is moving from a pre-digital to a post-digital age. The use of technology during travel will have a profound impact on how passengers interact with airports with demand focused more on automation and hands-on control over each step of their journey. Geneva-based SITA, the world’s leading specialist in air transport communications and Information Technology, says 83 percent of airport and airline IT leaders it surveyed believe that the demographic shift will be the most important influence on their passenger solutions strategy from 2025 onwards.