Photo Credit: x/@Airbus
Dubai, UAE — November 2025 — Airbus has unveiled its Global Market Forecast 2025, spotlighting the Middle East as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation regions for the next two decades.
The data comes as the Dubai Air Show prepares to kick off, running until 21 November at the mega-hub of Dubai World Central. The event promises to bring together more than 1,500 exhibitors, over 200 aircraft in flying and static displays, and 450 speakers for its conferences, highlighting the industry’s focus on the region’s explosive growth.
Dubai Airshow 2025 is officially live.
From the second the gates opened, the site filled with movement, sound and colour. Aircraft rolling onto the runway, exhibitors unlocking new showcases and the crowd pushing forward to see what is coming next.
The future is here and you… pic.twitter.com/Dwv8KsEFzG— Dubai Airshow (@DubaiAirshow) November 17, 2025
According to the Emirates News Agency, the European planemaker forecasts that the region’s in-service fleet will surge from 1,480 aircraft in 2024 to 3,700 by 2044, creating a requirement for 4,080 new passenger aircraft deliveries. This massive order comprises 2,380 single-aisle and 1,700 widebody jets.
It’s ALL SYSTEMS GO for Dubai Airshow 2025!
Lots of pre-show prepping as #TeamAirbus pulls out all the stops to make #DAS25 unforgettable! 🚁✈️🛰️Watch this space or check out our dedicated page for all our news & updates ➡️ https://t.co/Sr7XnluyZA@AirbusDefence @AirbusSpace… pic.twitter.com/dBmiKCH2aa
— Airbus (@Airbus) November 17, 2025
A key finding of the report is that widebody aircraft will represent 42 percent of the total demand in the Middle East, which is the highest share globally and more than double the world average of 20 percent.
This positions the region as the leading driver of global widebody growth, a trend fuelled by its strategic geographic location as the centre of gravity for worldwide air traffic growth continues to move eastwards.
This expansion is supported by robust economic development, tourism, and trade, with passenger traffic in the region expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 4.4 percent.
A projected population increase of 240 million people over the next twenty years will further amplify the demand for air travel.
Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus in Africa and the Middle East region, stated: “The Middle East is transforming global aviation, and the forecast fleet expansion is truly significant, particularly when it comes to widebodies.”
He added: “This region is becoming the long-haul hub now and into the future. Airbus is proud to be partnering closely with customers in the region, delivering the most efficient, latest-generation aircraft, end-to-end support, and sustainable solutions.”
As the aviation network and traffic continue to develop, Airbus also forecasts a need for more than 265,000 new personnel to be employed in the sector over the next 20 years, including 69,000 new pilots, nearly 64,000 new technicians, and 132,000 cabin crew members.
The regional commercial aviation services market as a whole is valued at approximately $30 billion over the next two decades.
This service’s growth will be principally in maintaining aircraft availability, training, flight operations and Air Traffic Management solutions, as well as cabin upgrades and connectivity.
