Analysis: What to Expect from the 2025 Dubai Airshow

DUBAI — With two weeks to go, the Dubai Airshow is set to be a busy one for the aviation industry. The biennial event is set to take place once again at Dubai Al Maktoum (DWC) Airport in its purpose-built venue. Here, airlines and manufacturers will showcase their best products and have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders.

As always, your Airways team will be on the ground, running left and right to attend press conferences, interviews, aircraft tours, and more. And as always, your Airways team is working hard to prepare for the chaotic yet gratifying days in Dubai, which you can follow on our website, newsletter, social media, and multimedia account. But what can we expect from the Dubai Airshow in 2025? Let’s dive in. 

Boeing

After Boeing’s quiet presence at the 2025 Paris Airshow, the American manufacturer is expected to make a comeback, bringing its 777 9 to the UAE after a two-year hiatus from major international airshows. Similar to the 2023 edition, the 777-9 is expected to perform a flight display in the UAE. However, Boeing has yet to announce its aircraft list for the event officially. 

The Dubai Airshow has always been a strong event for Boeing. While Airbus’ sales book has consistently grown at the Paris Airshow, Boeing can count on a large number of customers in the GCC and the Middle East.

Part of the commercial orders was anticipated by the U.S. President's visits to the region in early 2025, during which Qatar Airways (QR), lessor AviLease, and Etihad Airways (EY) placed orders for Boeing narrow-bodies and wide-bodies, arguably stealing some attention from the airshow’s work. Recently, Turkish Airlines (TK) placed an order for up to 75 Boeing 787s and announced its intent to purchase up to 150 more 737 MAX. 

Nevertheless, Boeing is expected to add more sales to its name at DAS2025, with potential customers based in the area. Oman Air (WY) is expected to place an order for a larger narrowbody, with the Boeing 737-10 and the A321 under scrutiny, according to its CEO. As WY intends to finalise the order before mid-2026, the Dubai Airshow would fall into the expected timeline. 

Riyadh Air (RX) has finalised its fleet for the foreseeable future, with the Boeing 787-9, A320neo family, and A350-1000, enabling the airline to reach 100 destinations by 2030. Hence, an order is unlikely to be placed in Dubai. 

Both Emirates (EK) and flydubai (FZ) could expand their fleets with more Boeing aircraft. The Boeing 737-10 would provide FZ with narrowbody capacity. However, after FZ’s disappointments in 2024 deliveries, the Dubai-based carrier could turn to Airbus for fleet diversification and range. 

Airbus

After recording a strong performance at the Paris Airshow, Airbus is expected to bring a strong presence to DWC airport. The A350-1000, A220-300, and ACJ320 will be showcased, together with more aircraft from defense and helicopters. Airbus’s presence should continue to capitalize on market opportunities coming from airlines in the region. 

At the 2025 Paris airshow, the OEM added around 250 orders to its books as well as 150 options. Notably, the European manufacturer added LOT Polish Airlines (LO) to its customer list. LO selected the A220 as the replacement for its E-jet family, in a move that surprised many in the industry. The airline’s firm order included 40 aircraft, split equally between 20 A220-100s and 20 A220-300s, with options for 44 additional units. 

In Dubai, Airbus could win the long-awaited A350-1000 order from Emirates, as well as add new customers such as flydubai (FZ) and Oman Air (WY) to its list. 

Embraer 

The Brazilian manufacturer registered a record-breaking year. In 2025, Embraer added new E2 customers, including ANA (NH), Avelo (XP), SAS (SK), and more. Embraer’s E175 saw an order for 60 units plus 50 options at the Paris Airshow from SkyWest (OO).

The company’s backlog reached US$31.3 billion in 3Q25, with commercial aviation registering a 37% year-on-year increase. Embraer’s commercial aviation division has a backlog of almost 500 units as of 3Q25, with the E2 program approaching 500 lifetime orders. The OEM is set to close the year by delivering Luxair’s (LX) first E195-E2. 

Embraer is set to showcase its E195-E2, likely featuring the “Tech Eagle” livery, KC390 Millennium, and E-freighter at the Dubai Airshow. The E2 programme has become more global in 2025, spanning most of the world. However, the Middle East and the GCC have always been challenging for the Brazilian manufacturer. Larger narrow-bodies and wide-bodies have always served high-demand, medium-haul routes.

While the E2 could perform well in regional markets in the GCC, the only airline to boast the E2 in its fleet remains Royal Jordanian (RJ). In 2022, Muscat-based SalamAir (OV) placed an order for the E195-E2, delaying delivery until an improved version of the PW GTF engine is available. 

COMAC

For the first time at a major international airshow, COMAC will bring its C919 STD and C909. The C919 has a large order book, fueled mainly by domestic demand, reducing Boeing’s and Airbus’s presence in China.

The Shanghai-based manufacturer has been gaining attention in Asia, with several airlines outside China reportedly considering the type as a replacement for the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. 

Emirates (EK)

Dubai-based Emirates (EK) and flydubai (FZ) will showcase their fleets on static display. Just a few days ago, EK celebrated its 40th birthday. Not many airlines have revolutionized air transport as much as EK in such a short period of time. EK will showcase five aircraft at DWC: the Airbus A350-900, A380-800, Boeing 777-300ER, DA42 NG, and GB1. While the presence of special liveries is not confirmed, just a few days ago, the airline unveiled a brand-new design on the Airbus A380 to celebrate 25 years of the Skywards Program. 

Sir Tim Clark, EK’s President, has often commented on the A350-1000 engine performance, criticising its on-wing time and durability. However, the airline remains interested in the aircraft as Airbus’s largest product to date. EK has often pushed both Airbus and Boeing to develop a larger wide-body aircraft to replace the A380 suitably.

While the Boeing 777X is the most straightforward replacement for the -300ER, the same cannot be said for EK’s only double-decker. The airline is the only ME3 carrier not to feature the A350-1000 in its fleet or order book, and we can expect to learn more about the potential order at the airshow. One more point is the passengers’ feedback on the new A350-900. EK has taken delivery of several units over the past 12 months, and the aircraft is replacing the Boeing 777 on many short- and medium-haul routes.  

An update regarding the Boeing 787 status is also expected, with Sir Tim Clark not hiding his feelings about the programme. At the 2024 event, which saw the introduction of the A350-900 into EK’s fleet, he “had no idea” when asked about the Dreamliner’s timeline to join EK’s fleet. 

Last but certainly not least, the Boeing 777X program. The Boeing 777X found greater commercial success in 2025, with Qatar Airways (QR), Korean Air (KE), Cathay Pacific (CX), and other airlines adding the aircraft to their order books for the first time. EK is the largest customer by some margin, and arguably the most affected by its delivery delays. Boeing recently announced the aircraft will not be ready before 2027, pushing back the delivery from 2026.

Sir Tim Clark has once again been vocal about the “dozens of missing aircraft” in EK’s fleet, which forced the airline to retrofit and overuse the ageing B777-300ERs. Comments on the matter will not be rare to obtain at the airshow, and we look forward to sitting down with EK’s management to learn more about the state of operations. 

flydubai (FZ) 

After the 2024 delivery delays, FZ is back on its growth trajectory. In a bold move in the industry, the airline recently announced that complimentary IFE and meals would be included on all tickets. At the previous edition of the Dubai Airshow, FZ committed to a hybrid narrowbody-widebody fleet, purchasing 30 Boeing 787-9s. While it is expected that these will initially be used on high-capacity routes, the new type will allow FZ to expand its reach well into Europe and Southeast Asia, potentially stretching as far as Japan and North America due to the Dreamliner’s long range. 

At the time, Chairman Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum noted the importance of this order, which is the airline's first time entering the world of widebodies, stating:

"I am proud today to see flydubai evolve further, surpassing labels and challenging the traditional conventions around travel. Today's order reaffirms flydubai's commitment to enabling more people to travel across its expanding network. The highly fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner will allow flydubai to expand its horizons and cater to the growing demand on existing routes."

Recent news involves new route launches, such as Iași, Chișinău, and Nairobi over the past few weeks and new interline agreements. In 2025, FZ took delivery of 12 new Boeing 737-8s, with five more expected before the end of the year. Today, flydubai operates a fleet of 95 aircraft, serving more than 135 destinations and opening over 100 new routes that did not have a direct air link to Dubai or were not served by a UAE national carrier from Dubai. 

In 2024, the airline did not hide its dissatisfaction with the Boeing 737-8 delivery delays. FZ has always been a loyal Boeing customer, and the delays impacted its strategy, growth, and operations. Several rumors from early 2025 linked FZ to a large aircraft order, and the airline has yet to present its Boeing 787 cabin product.

A few years ago, FZ unveiled a new “Business Suite” product, arranged in a 1-1 layout, for its 737 fleet. While delivery delays impacted the rollout of the new cabin, the product remains competitive in the industry, where more airlines are choosing the A321LR and A321XLR for 7+ hour flights. Each seat is designed in a reverse herringbone arrangement and features sliding doors, in line with products that airlines in the region are rolling out in 2025. 

With this build-up, FZ is expected to arrive at the airshow as a protagonist. From FZ, we can expect updates on the cabin product, Boeing 787 introduction, new facilities, Boeing 737 refurbishment, network, passenger feedback, and much more. My personal expectation is a mockup of the new cabin product and plenty of announcements made by FZ. Given delivery delays, a large aircraft order is also not to be excluded, as previously rumoured at the beginning of 2025.

Other Airlines

While it is EK’s and FZ’s homefield, other airlines will try to get a piece of the media attention during the airshow. First of all, it is Riyadh Air. As of Sunday, November 2, the official aircraft list does not include RX’s Boeing 787; however, the airline secured one of the largest chalets just outside the central entrance to the main pavilion.

Recently, RX’s Boeing 787-9 (RX) was spotted at Boeing’s delivery center. The aircraft is the first to feature RX’s cabin product, which was unveiled a few months ago. On October 26, the airline commenced operations to London Heathrow (LHR) using “Jamila,” the Dreamliner leased from Oman Air (WY).

While tickets were not available for purchase, the initial flights are designed to enable smooth operations and guarantee. It would not come as a surprise to see RX’s first-delivered Dreamliner at the airshow and tour the new cabin. 

Speaking of WY, the airline confirmed to Airways that it will not attend the airshow. WY has had some of the busiest months in its history, with new routes, aircraft deliveries, and oneworld alliance membership.

The aircraft list does not include either Etihad (EY) or Qatar Airways (QR). While the former will participate in the airshow with multiple chalets, no assigned space results for the latter in the official floorplan. Egyptair (MS), Air Italy (IG), and irlink (4Z) are also among the list of airlines expected to participate in the airshow with a chalet or stand. 

Conclusion

DAS2025 is set to be a busy one. The aviation industry will be back at DWC airport, with many companies waiting to show their hand. Both airlines and OEMs will present commercial updates, new equipment orders, products, and more. Boeing, EK, and FZ will be under special attention as key players at the airshow.

We will follow COMAC’s developments with great interest and look forward to visiting the C919 for the first time, as well as sitting down with airlines and OEMs to receive media updates. See you in Dubai!