DUBAI: The 25th edition of Dubai Airport Show concluded at Dubai World Trade Centre on October 14, with strong participation from the global aviation industry and a focus on airport development, digital transformation, aviation security and sustainability amid major infrastructure expansion projects across the region.
Opened on October 12 by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Border Security Council, the three-day event attracted more than 3,000 visitors and over 150 exhibitors from more than 30 countries, showcasing the latest technologies and solutions for the aviation sector.
Discussions throughout the event highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI), biometrics, digital twins and integrated data platforms are transforming passenger screening, baggage handling and energy management at airports.
At the Global Airport Leaders’ Forum, speakers stressed the importance of clear leadership and communication in maintaining passenger confidence. Eng. Khalifa S. Ali Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, said Dubai’s ambition to build the world’s largest airport extended beyond infrastructure and passenger capacity, with the focus on delivering the best possible passenger experience.
In his strategic opening address, Zaffin said technology should be central to airport design, enabling the integration of solutions that improve passenger experience and benefit all stakeholders.
Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports, identified collaboration, operational agility and innovation as three key priorities for the future of aviation. He said passengers viewed their airport journey as one seamless experience rather than a series of separate services and procedures.
“Airports must be designed to allow new technologies to be introduced and integrated into their operations over many years,” he said.
Exhibitors reported strong business activity during the event. ARC Airport Research Center said this year’s show was busier than the previous edition, with its meeting schedule fully booked each day.
Georges Fenergi, Senior Vice President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Amadeus, described the exhibition as a unique meeting point for airports, airlines, ground handlers and technology partners, adding that the aviation industry was evolving particularly rapidly in the region.
The Business Connect programme was another key feature of Airport Show 2026, facilitating targeted networking, pre-arranged meetings and direct engagement between exhibitors, hosted buyers and industry decision-makers. The programme brought together 150 hosted buyers, creating opportunities for commercial partnerships and business development.
Several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed during the three-day event, including agreements involving Dubai Airports and Vanderlande, Fujairah International Airport and Italy’s ENAV Group.
RX Middle East, the event organiser, also signed three MoUs with Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), dnata and Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) to establish strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening regional aviation.
May Ismail, Event Manager at RX Middle East, said the objective was to ensure that Airport Show continued to deliver business value, facilitate strategic partnerships and connect global expertise with regional opportunities.
She said the exhibition had brought together airport leaders, government officials and service providers to exchange technologies and ideas shaping the future of aviation.
Khansaheb Facilities Management said its participation reflected a commitment to innovation, operational excellence and collaboration in developing smarter and more sustainable airport environments.
Addressing the Air Traffic Control Forum, Talal Al Hammadi, Vice President of Air Traffic Development at dans, said one of aviation’s biggest challenges was not technology itself but the differing pace at which the industry and technological capabilities evolved. He noted that AI capabilities could advance within months and influence traffic flows within a single day.
Ahmad Albouz, Deputy General Manager of SDP, said the event had provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships with airport owners, developers and major contractors while gaining insight into upcoming projects and business opportunities across regional markets.
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, Airport Show is organised by RX, which runs around 350 events worldwide.
Ismail expressed appreciation to the exhibition’s strategic partners and said preparations had already begun for the next edition, which she expected to be larger and attract broader participation from countries, organisations and industry leaders.
The event was sponsored by Schneider Electric, Smiths Detection, ADB Safegate and Amadeus, with support from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports, DAEP, Emirates, dnata, dans, Dubai Police, the Dubai Civil Aviation Security Center, the Contractors’ Association, GATE and Women in Aviation Middle East.
The Women in Aviation (WIA) Middle East Conference and Awards also brought together aviation leaders, professionals and young women considering careers in the sector.
Mervat Sultan, President of the Women in Aviation Middle East Chapter, urged the industry to demonstrate that its commitments to the next generation were reflected in its actions. She said the sector needed to maintain high standards while making room for fresh thinking.
In her keynote address, Aysha Mohammed Alhameli, Assistant Director General for Air Accident Investigation at the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, emphasised the human consequences of aviation accidents and the responsibility of industry professionals to remain precise and committed to aviation safety and security.
