Airbus Forecast: Middle East Aircraft Fleet Set to Double by 2044

Airbus projects that the Middle East’s aircraft fleet will more than double to 3,700 planes by 2044, underscoring the region’s rapid rise as a global aviation hub.

Speaking ahead of the Dubai Airshow 2025, Grainne van den Berg, Airbus Head of Marketing for Africa and the Middle East, said passenger traffic in the region is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 4.4% over the next two decades. She added that the aviation services market is forecast to double to $29.9 billion by 2044, reflecting strong demand for maintenance, training, and digital solutions.

Airbus, competing with Boeing for new orders at the airshow, also predicts that widebody aircraft will account for 42% of total demand in the Middle East by 2044 — the highest share globally.

“The Middle East is transforming global aviation, and the forecast fleet expansion is truly significant, particularly when it comes to widebodies,” said Gabriel Semelas, Airbus President for Africa and the Middle East. “This region is becoming the long-haul hub now and into the future.”

On Nov. 18, flydubai signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the acquisition of 150 A321neo aircraft, marking the airline’s debut as an Airbus customer. This strategic agreement reflects flydubai’s confidence in Dubai’s ambitious growth trajectory and reinforces its commitment to expanding its fleet and global network.


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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com, airbus.com