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UAE carriers lead aviation boom as Middle East emerges as global hub
Emirates and Qatar Airways rank among the 2024 Top 20 Global Airlines by capacity
- PUBLISHED: Sun 4 May 2025, 7:13 PM
The Middle East aviation market is emerging as the world’s second-fastest-growing region with a 5.0 per cent expansion since 2019, trailing only South Asia’s 12 per cent growth, according to leading travel data provider.
The UAE, driven by its flagship carriers Emirates, flydubai, and Etihad Airways, is at the forefront of this dynamic growth, leveraging its strategic geographic position and robust infrastructure to solidify its role as a global aviation hub.
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Emirates and Qatar Airways rank among the 2024 top 20 global airlines by capacity and the top 10 by available seat kilometres. Emirates Group, Saudia Group and Qatar Airways are the top three carriers by group position. Between them these three operated 127 million departing seats in 2024, according to OAG’s report, “Middle East skies: A new era of competition, capacity and growth.”
“But the standout story from this report belongs to flynas, which posted a 63 per cent capacity increase for 2024 versus 2019 — making it the fastest-growing airline in the region. flydubai followed closely with 56 per cent growth, as both carriers operated nearly 14.4 million departing seats each, with flynas edging ahead by 25,000 seats,” the OAG report added.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) and other sources highlight the UAE’s pivotal contribution to the region’s aviation resurgence.
The Middle East aviation market is projected to reach $28.38 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4 per cent through 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence.
Iata data reveals a 33 per cent surge in regional passenger traffic in 2023 compared to 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels due to rapid vaccination programs and reopened borders. The UAE, with 100 per cent of its market focused on international travel, accounts for the largest share of the Middle East and Africa aviation market, handling 7.5 million seats in April 2024, a 6.0 per cent increase from the previous year.
“As Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Riyadh Air’s 2025 launch loom, UAE carriers are poised to maintain their edge through fleet modernisation, sustainability initiatives, and unmatched passenger experiences, cementing the region’s role in global aviation,” said Manoj Koshy John, founder and CEO of Dubai-based AeroConnections. “The UAE’s strategic position and carrier innovation are driving unprecedented opportunities,” he added.
Emirates and flydubai are setting the gold standard in airline partnerships, reflecting regional sentiment. flydubai, established in 2009, has rapidly risen to rank among the top five regional carriers by capacity. It posted a 56 per cent capacity increase in 2024 compared to 2019, operating nearly 14.4 million departing seats, just behind Saudi-based flynas (63 per cent growth).
Low-cost carriers (LCCs) now constitute 29 per cent of Middle East capacity, up from 13 per cent in 2014, with flydubai playing a key role in this shift. The carrier serves 113 destinations across 53 countries, focusing on underserved routes and secondary cities, aligning with the UAE’s vision to enhance global connectivity.
Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, is also expanding aggressively, targeting 33 to 34 million passengers by 2030, a tripling of its current volume. In 2024, Etihad increased capacity by 15 per cent compared to April 2023, per OAG data. The carrier’s strategy emphasises regional connectivity within a five-hour flight range and promoting Abu Dhabi as a tourism hub.
The UAE’s aviation success is underpinned by world-class infrastructure. Dubai International Airport (DXB), the region’s busiest hub, recorded 92 million passengers in 2024, per Travel and Tour World.
However, challenges persist. Geopolitical tensions, such as the Israel-Gaza conflict, have forced carriers like Emirates, flydubai, and Etihad to reroute flights, increasing fuel costs and flight times, per Travel and Tour World. Rising fuel prices and pilot shortages — projected to reach 80,000 globally by 2032, with the Middle East accounting for a significant share — pose further hurdles, according to aviation experts.
The competitive landscape is intensifying, with routes like Dubai-Riyadh and Cairo-Jeddah seeing fierce rivalry. Emirates and flydubai’s focus on connecting traffic — 66 per cent of Emirates’ passengers are transit — strengthens the UAE’s hub status. “The Middle East region’s strategic position as a global hub, coupled with the dynamic expansion of both low-cost and network carriers, is driving unprecedented opportunities. This vibrant market is setting the stage for future advancements in aviation technology and passenger experience and at OAG, we are thrilled to support this evolution,” said Filip Filipov, COO of OAG.
