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With air travel now returning to pre-Covid levels, next week’s biennial Dubai Air Show is set to be the biggest ever. TIM ROBINSON FRAeS and BELLA RICHARDS preview the Middle East’s largest aerospace exhibition.
This Dubai Air Show coverage brought to you in partnership with AMAC Aerospace
Set to take place between 13-17 November, this year’s Dubai Air Show is on track to be the biggest ever, according to the organisers as commercial air travel rebounds from the existential threat that was the Covid pandemic. Over 100,000 visitors are set to attend, likely surpassing the 104,000 from 2021. More than 1,400 exhibitors from 95 countries, including 400 first-time exhibitors and 80 start-ups are set to attend the show at the Dubai World Central (DWC) airport. The show is set to feature 180+ aircraft on display, as well as 20 country pavilions and a week-long conference and industry forum with some 300+ speakers.
Exhibitors
All eyes on Dubai with Embraer’s Tech Eagle (Embraer)
About 100 more exhibitors are scheduled to showcase their technology at this air show compared to 2021. Several major companies will make an appearance, including Airbus, Boeing, Leonardo, Rolls-Royce, Lockheed Martin, Safran, Pratt & Whitney, RTX, Thales, and more. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will also be returning for the second time since its first appearance in 2021 – a product of the geopolitical normalisation between Arab nations and Israel – despite current events. Reaction Engines will be one of the companies exhibiting at the Dubai Air Show for the first time and is slated to showcase its advanced propulsion technology and thermal management solutions.
Several space agencies will have a presence in Dubai, including the UAE Space Agency, the Brazilian Space Agency, the Italian Space Agency, and even Russia’s Roscosmos. There are eight pavilions in total at this year’s air show representing nations such as Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, and the US. For the first time, the air show will also host a Space Experience Programme in partnership with the UAE Space Agency.
Aircraft on display
China’s PLAAF 1st August display team with their J-10 fighters will provide thrills in the flying display. (乘号同学/Wilkipedia)
So far, the Dubai Air Show has unveiled just under 60 aircraft that will be on display during the event, from military aircraft and commercial jets to eVTOL’s and helicopters. Major players showcasing their aircraft this year include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault, Calidus, De Havilland, Embraer, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudia Group, Leonardo, Bombardier, Gulfstream, and more.
On the commercial side, Airbus is showcasing several members of its A320 aircraft family of aircraft, plus an A330-800neo. Boeing will display several of its jets, including the 787 Dreamliner, and the latest 777-9 aircraft. In fact, the ‘triple-seven’ was the first confirmed aircraft to perform a flying display at the 2023 event (it completed its first flying display at the 2021 show). Meanwhile, Embraer will be bringing its Profit Hunter E195-E2, this time in the latest ‘Tech Eagle’ livery.
For business aviation, Dassault will return to display its Falcon 6X, Falcon 10X mock-up, and 2000LXS at the static line, as well as Gulfstream’s GVII-G500 and G700.
In terms of military aircraft, the latest Boeing F-15QA for the Qatar Emirate Air Force (QEAF) is set to make its Dubai debut, while Airbus will be showcasing its A400M. The French Air & Space Force will display one of its Dassault Rafale fighters on the static line, and the China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) will showcase its L15 Advanced Jet Trainer. This comes after the UAE announced in early 2022 its intent to purchase 12 of the jets.
This year’s Dubai will also provide the rare opportunity to see both the Indian Air Force Tejas and Pakistan Air Force JF-17 light fighters at the same air show.
Commercial aviation
Qatar Airways will have an Airbus A350 on display, but will be missing its former CEO Akbar Al-Baker. (Qatar Airways).
With global air travel now back at 96% of pre-pandemic levels, airlines are out of survival mode and thinking about new orders to cater for future growth, despite ongoing challenges in the supply chain, engine issues, MRO capacity and shortages of pilots and technicians. One prediction from the Air Current suggests that there could be between 500 and 1,000 airliner orders by the end of the week – with the potential to double the number of orders (501) from the previous show in 2021. However, while the Middle East has been the fastest to recover from Covid, it is still not expected to recover from pre-pandemic levels until 2024.
Despite the region’s long association with oil, aviation’s sustainability challenge will also be a major theme, with the aerospace industry keen to tap into the Middle East’s expertise in looking for ways to scale up production of SAF and new fuels – along with infrastructure, transport and logistics.
This year, the focus within the commercial aviation sector could be less about the traditional sales dogfight between manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, but a new rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE to become the Middle East’s aviation, tourism and transport mega-hub – with Riyadh committing billions in an ambitious plan to emulate the UAE’s success, and diversify away from oil.
At the show, the new Saudi Arabian carrier, Riyadh Air, is expected to unveil its new second livery, along with a rumoured order for narrowbodies. Saudia Group will also make its first public appearance since its rebranding. The airline unveiled its rebranding and livery in September and will take over the show’s largest pavilion as well as showcasing its 787-10 and A320neo aircraft at the event.
Home carrier Emirates, despite CEO Sir Tim Clark’s impatience over the delay in getting its first Boeing 777X – now not set to arrive in 2025 – could also be getting its wallet out at the show, ordering extra capacity with more widebody orders of Boeing 787/777X or Airbus A350s.
A new Dubai-based airline, Beond, will also make its debut at the air show. The company is a premium leisure carrier and will showcase its new Airbus A319.
On static display this year will be Air India Express’ Boeing 737 MAX in a new livery – a reminder of the shifting focus from China to India as the engine-room of future civil aviation growth. With the Chinese economy stalling, decoupling of Western companies, worries about Taiwan and an indigenous airliner alternative in the COMAC C919, China is now becoming less attractive to the airframers than it previously used to be.
Another trend to watch at this year’s show is the return of air cargo – with the show having no less than three P2F airliner conversions on static display.
Finally, there may be more details at the show of Saudi Arabian investment in Boom Supersonic’s Overture SST, via its new NEOM Investment Fund (NIF). NEOM, part of Saudi Arabia’s giant tourism plan, is a futuristic linear smart city designed to redefine urban living.
One missing CEO from this year’s exhibition will be former Qatar CEO, Akbar Al-Baker – who having built up the airline to be a major force in the region, stepped down on 6 November. Known for his controversial outbursts and frank views – the absence of this highly quotable CEO may mean that this year’s Dubai could well be a duller place.
Military aerospace
Last Dubai saw the reveal of this locally developed Calidus B-350 attack turboprop. (Bill Read/RAeS)
With two major conflicts now ongoing in Ukraine and Gaza, it’s expected developments in military technology will gain much attention – particularly in missile defence, drones and high-end fighters.
Regional security is also likely to be high on the agenda on the sidelines. Earlier this year the US deployed F-35s and A-10s to the Gulf as fears of a new ‘Tanker War’ with Iran intensified. Indeed, only four years ago at the 2019 Dubai Air Show, air defences were deployed around the site after a major Iran-backed cruise missile and loitering drone strike on a Saudi Arabian refinery.
Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine means that Russia is missing from the list of traditional exhibitors. Two years ago, UAC launched the Su-75 ‘Checkmate’ with great fanfare (and oddly a tie-in-perfume). The single-engine stealth fighter was aimed at Gulf nations that are currently restricted from acquiring the US F-35 Lightning II. With Western sanctions targeting firms doing business with Russia, the poor performance of Russian equipment in Ukraine, and the dire state of the Russian economy, it seems unlikely that the Su-75 will now attract Gulf nations as co-developers.
In other fighter acquisition news, there are reports that Saudi Arabia is mulling a buy of French Rafale fighters to help bolster its air force. This has been characterised by some as a negotiating tactic to help unlock Eurofighter sales – currently blocked by Berlin.
Advanced Air Mobility
Archer Aviation is bringing its Midnight eVTOL to the show. (Archer Aviation)
True to its reputation as a go-to place for innovation and creating the future – expect much talk and interest around the Advanced Air Mobility sector.
The region has announced a goal of enabling ‘flying taxi’ services by 2026 and more recently US eVTOL developer Archer Aviation revealed that it was planning to start air taxi services with its Midnight eVTOL in 2026 – with Abu Dhabi as its launch city. The company is scheduled to unveil its new Midnight electric air taxi, marking its Middle Eastern debut.
The show will also see the debut of Bellwether Industries’ new eVTOL design, called Oryx. The UK-headquartered start-up previously flew a demonstrator of a two-seat ‘flying car’ Volar eVTOL in Dubai. Oryx is reported to be slightly bigger – with a capacity for three people and an 80km range.
Business aviation
The Middle East is a key market for business aviation. (Dubai Air Show)
Several business aviation companies will return to the air show this year, with Gulfstream set to debut its enhanced G700 jet alongside the G500. The company announced in September that the G700’s engines had received FAA certification and the aircraft would have a longer range than previously anticipated. Embraer will exhibit its mid-sized Praetor 600 which entered service in 2019. Its appearance at the show comes off the back of the company’s successful third-quarter financial results, boasting a 38% jump in profits, led mostly by commercial aviation.
Meanwhile, Dassault will showcase its long-established Falcon 9X and Falcon 2000LXS. However, the company will also display a mock-up of its Falcon 10X, which is currently under development and is scheduled to enter into service in 2025. Bombardier is also set to return to display its Challenger 3500 and Global 7500 aircraft. Furthermore, Abu Dhabi-based Royal Jet will showcase its Boeing Business Jet 737-700.
Spaceflight
UAE astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi on the ISS earlier this year. (NASA)
Despite the UAE’s small size, the nation is evolving into a major player in spaceflight – with the Hope Mars mission and an astronaut corps that this year saw the first-ever Arab spacewalk, with a UAE astronaut, Sultan al-Neyadi spending six months on the ISS.
As befits this increased interest in spaceflight, which has grabbed the imagination of Emiratis and the outside world, this year’s show will feature an expanded and bigger space pavilion, showcasing the UAE Space Agency, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII).
Conferences and forums
Over 300 speakers are set to take part in an extensive conference programme during the show. (Wayne Davis/RAeS)
In addition to the static and flying displays, chalets and exhibition halls, the show is set to include a whole week of conferences and forums, across nine tracks, covering advanced air mobility, sustainability, passenger experience, ATM, the future workforce, flight safety and space exploration. The most anticipated is Aerospace 2050 which will explore sustainable operations in space and aviation, stemming from the President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan declaring 2023 as the ‘Year of Sustainability’ and the nation hosting COP28 in 2023. Meanwhile the VISTA start-up hub returns as a showcase for innovation, tech and investment opportunities.
RAeS President to give Sir Maurice Flanagan lecture
RAeS President Kerissa Khan will be giving a lecture on ‘Pioneering Future Flight Innovation’ on 15 November. (Tim Robinson/RAeS)
Meanwhile, RAeS 2023-24 President Kerissa Khan will be attending the show to meet up with Members, Fellows and Corporate Partners, building on strong links the Society has in the region via its UAE Branch. She is also set to give the prestigious UAE Branch Sir Maurice Flanagan named lecture, on 15 November at the Emirates Training College. More details here.
To arrange a meeting or interview with RAeS President Kerissa Khan and Partnerships Manager Carol Swan, contact partners@aerosociety.com.
Stay ahead of all the news!
Catch up with all the hot news (Dubai Air Show)
To follow all the news at Dubai don’t forget to bookmark www.aerosociety.com and follow the daily air show news on the Insight blog. For those on X, follow @AeroSociety and use the hashtag #DAS23 or #DubaiAirShow.
Follow the AEROSPACE team for updates from the show
Editor-in-Chief Tim Robinson @RAeSTimR
Features Editor Bella Richards @RAeSBellaR
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