24th Dubai Airport Show concludes on overwhelming response from aviation industry
More than 6,000 attendees from 30 countries; 140 exhibitors and 150-plus buyers from 70 organisations from 30 countries
Several companies signed joint venture and collaboration deals
2026 edition of Airport Show to be held on May 12 to 14, 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre
Airport Show hosted more than 3,500 meetings under Business Connect Programme
Dubai, United Arab Emirate: The 24 edition of Dubai Airport Show 2025, which received overwhelming support from the aviation industry from all over the world, concluded at Dubai World Trade Centre today with a call to effectively adopt and invest in new technologies to grab the huge opportunities offered by the massive airport expansion projects in the region.
The 24th edition is marked by three days of fruitful discussion sessions, displays of innovative technologies, agreements and memorandums of understanding that will contribute to shaping the future of the aviation industry.
The Show attracted more than 6,000 attendees, indicating overwhelming participation by all stakeholders in the industry in the wake of overall positive sentiment of growth in the aviation industry.
More than 140 exhibitors from 22 countries participated in the exhibition with the presence of over 150 buyers from over 70 organisations from 30 countries. The trade gathering hosted more than 3,500 meetings under its popular Business Connect Programme.
Being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, Airport Show is organized by RX, a global company that organizes about 350 events across the world, to provide participants valuable insights into issues and technologies shaping the airports in the ever-evolving competitive global business landscape.
May Ismail, Event Manager, Airport Show, said: 'I express my deep appreciation to all our strategic partners for the great success achieved by the exhibition in its current session, and we have begun preparing from now to make the next session an exceptional one in every sense.'
The positive response from stakeholders has prompted exhibitors to participate in the next edition also.
'The Airport Show next year will be much larger with broader participation from more countries, organisations and leading players, which will translate to more business for them. The 25th edition, expected to be more participatory and broad-based, will be held from May 12 to 14, 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre,' she added.
Several agreements were signed by the participating companies on joint ventures, collaborations and service expansion.
The Airport Show was the venue to announce the awarding of a contract by Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) to Smiths Detection to deploy state-of-the-art checkpoint scanners throughout Terminals 1, 2, and 3 of Dubai International Airport.
DAEP is the agency responsible for the design, master-planning, infrastructure development and construction of Dubai's aviation sector.
The leading annual exhibition dedicated to the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region witnessed wide participation from industry leaders and international and regional experts, in conjunction with optimistic expectations for the growth of the global aviation industry, specifically the Middle East, as the industry is expected to achieve a new record in the number of passengers and airport expansions.
The Airport Show platform was chosen by leading operators, experts and regulators to discuss issues and challenges and suggest remedial measures so that the industry players can chart their future business strategies to fully grab the growth opportunities.
The co-located events, Global Airport Leaders' Forum (GALF) and Women in Aviation Middle East Conference, attracted more than 70 aviation leaders and expert speakers in 30 sessions.
This year's Airport Show is opened in the wake of the Middle East and neighbouring regions experiencing a significant surge in airport expansion projects, driven by a robust recovery in global aviation and optimistic projections for passenger growth.
With expectations to handle approximately 1.1 billion passengers annually by 2040 — up from 405 million in 2019 — the Middle East is investing heavily in infrastructure to meet this demand.
The 12th Global Airport Leader's Forum (GALF) was designed to take forward the aviation knowledge-enhancement agenda with keynote speeches from Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), HE Ahmad Ali Belqaizi, Executive Director, Aviation Safety and Environment Sector, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) Mr Abdulla Al Shamsi, Director of Engineering, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) and.
This year's new attractions include the GSE Zone, Airport Tech Pavilion, and Airport Design Hub.
The Airport Show is designed to serve the US$1 trillion airport development market in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
The Show hosted a series of high-level strategic sessions featuring top decision-makers and regional and international aviation experts. The discussions focused on bold, forward-looking solutions to address increasingly congested skies, rapid expansion, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies, smart air traffic management, the evolving role of next-generation airports as integrated logistics hubs, and the challenges of incorporating air taxis and autonomous aircraft into existing aviation ecosystems.
Participating in a presentation at GALF, Talal Al Hammadi, Vice President of Air Traffic Development at Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), shared Dubai's vision for adopting artificial intelligence and unified traffic systems for both manned and unmanned aviation, and highlighted the ambitious expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport as a real-world testbed for future aviation innovations.
As in the past, this year's event enjoyed strong backing of key aviation authorities and organizations, supported by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Emirates Airline and Group, dans and dnata.
Airport Show 2025 in Dubai witnessed an unprecedented African presence, with official delegations, airlines, and airport operators from more than 10 African
nations presenting ambitious visions and large-scale infrastructure projects in the aviation sector, extending through 2030.
Leading industry players have come on board as event partners and sponsors. Amadeus leads as the event's Strategic Partner, with Schneider Electric joining as Technology Partner. Gold Sponsor WAISL has joined sponsors Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), Smiths Detection and ADB SAFEGATE.
The ATC Forum benefits from the support of both Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans) and Global Air Navigation Services (GANS), while the Airport Security Forum is backed by Dubai Police and the National Guard.
Additionally, Airport Show 2025 is collaborating with several leading associations, including the Women in Aviation Middle East Chapter, the Contractors Association, the Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG), and the Dubai Airline Operators Committee (DAOC).
Several leading companies showcased their products and processes.
Ismaiel Asaad, Divisional Manager, Trading, Al-Futtaim Engineering, said the company showcased TOTO's advanced sanitary solutions, eco-friendly sanitaryware technologies such as touchless faucets, high-efficiency toilets and advanced hygiene systems that align with modern airport demands for hygiene, comfort and sustainability.'
TOTO participated in the Airport Show in collaboration with Al-Futtaim Contracting, its authorized distributor for UAE and KSA.
Hiroyuki Higashimoto, Division Head, TOTO Middle East Branch, said: 'Participating in the Airport Show provides a strategic platform for TOTO to reinforce our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and global partnerships within the aviation infrastructure sector.'
Andrew Paganelli, Director, Access Covers Australia, said:
'We are excited to showcase our innovative airport infrastructure product solutions at the Airport Show. As a leading ISO-accredited global manufacturer, we are dedicated to delivering advanced, sustainable access covers, grates, and multipart solutions that enhance safety and efficiency in airport operations.'
Mohammad AlSharabi, CEO of KAMS Global, said: 'Our participation underscores our commitment to delivering scalable, culturally attuned solutions that bridge global standards with regional needs ensuring relevance across MEASA's diverse markets.'
Haldun Aksoy, Chairman of the Board of Timsan said: 'The Airport Show is a significant opportunity to showcase our proven expertise in ground support equipment, expand its footprint in the MEASA region and develop relationships with key industry players. By offering innovative and durable GSE solutions, Timsan is reinforcing its leadership in the industry and positioning itself for continued growth in a rapidly evolving market,'
Elisabetta Bragagni, CEO of Tratos, said: 'We produce cables for a moving world and its dynamism distinguishes the company. Tratos cables move shipments, activate connectivity, transmit energy, allow transporting passengers and goods by rail and keep motorways flowing. Our aim is to show this sensible and intelligent innovation to keep the world moving, safely and efficiently in airport and in all connected services.'
Sage Parts displayed its product sheets showcasing its Rmptech product range, proven To Last Longer and Perform Better for GSE.
Iftekhar Ahmed, General Manager Sales( UAE+GCC), Eternity Technologies, said: 'We have showcased our Quasar Motive Power Range, manufactured in the UAE, which incorporates CNT (Carbon Nanotube) Technology for enhanced performance.'
Jean Pierre Nathan, International Business Development Manager at FAST Global Solutions, said: 'With our growing position in the Middle East market, our visibility at this event is critical—not just for reinforcing relationships with existing accounts, but also for developing new ones. This region is experiencing significant growth in the aviation industry, and it's vital that our customers see us actively engaged.'
M-ECS showcased its zero-emission, high-powered tractors and presented it electric GSE lineup — the TT22e, TT30e, and TT40e tractors — delivering unparalleled performance with groundbreaking battery life, remote monitoring, and real- time diagnostic capabilities.'
'We aim at supporting our customers to run greener, more efficient ground operations through innovation, automation and enhanced data analyses,' said a spokesperson of M-ECS.
Moh'd Moh'd, CEO, AEDLER Logistik Solutions, said: 'We are here to deepen our partnerships, showcase our engineering capabilities, and explore new collaborations that drive smarter solutions, more sustainable airport operations. This directly aligns with our long-term vision to lead the evolution of integrated air cargo, material handling and storage automation within the aviation industry, supporting airports in optimizing throughput, efficiency, and mainly handling experience. Our focus is on intelligent design, innovation-driven solutions, and sustainable growth in a rapidly changing global landscape.'
Giulio De Carli, President of Air Tech Italy and Founding Partner of OneWorks, said: 'Through our participation at the Airport Show, Air Tech Italy aims to promote the collective excellence, innovation, and sustainability of Italian companies serving the global airport and aviation sectors. Our strategic objective is twofold: to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders in the fast-growing Middle East aviation market, and to position Italian technology and expertise as critical enablers of safer, smarter, and greener airport operations worldwide.'
About RX
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 41 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
About RELX
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and territories and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
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