By Sangeeta Saxena
Emirates and flydubai Fuel Global Demand With Historic Orders at Dubai. 19 November 2025. Day 3 of the Dubai Airshow 2025 was unmistakably powered by the UAE’s aviation vision, as homegrown carriers Emirates and flydubai dominated the global conversation with record-setting fleet commitments, new training collaborations, cabin innovations, and strategic partnerships. The UAE showcased not only its purchasing scale but also its strategic maturity in shaping fleet trends, technology adoption, and sustainable industry growth.
Emirates’ additional A350 order and flydubai’s sweeping multi-billion-dollar agreements with Boeing and Airbus demonstrated the country’s decisive influence on aircraft demand in the Middle East and beyond. Meanwhile, defence localisation efforts led by Tawazun highlighted the UAE’s growing ambition to build sovereign aerospace capabilities. The day reflected more than commercial growth—it showcased a nation steering the future of global aviation, from passenger experience and fleet strategy to industrial collaboration and defence integration.
Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates reinforced its long-term fleet strategy with eight additional Airbus A350-900s, bringing its total A350 commitment to 73 aircraft, 13 of which are already in service. Alongside its earlier show-stopping order for 65 Boeing 777-9s, the carrier has now committed US$41.4 billion in widebody aircraft investments at the airshow. “Together with the additional Boeing 777-9 order announced earlier this week, Emirates now has a total of 375 units of the latest widebody aircraft on its orderbook. This is a massive investment in our future,” said Chairman & CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
Not to be overshadowed, flydubai delivered a flurry of announcements that captured global attention. The airline unveiled a three-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner cabin, complete with Premium Economy, alongside new partnerships with Boeing for pilot and technician training. Panasonic Avionics’ new Astrovia system was confirmed as the inflight entertainment platform on its 787 fleet. To reinforce future growth, flydubai added a US$13 billion MoU for 75 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft + 75 options, complementing its earlier 150 Airbus A321neo MoU, making it one of the fastest-growing dual-fleet operators in the region.
The day also reinforced the Middle East’s push for defence localisation. Tawazun Economic Council and MBDA, in partnership with Flyr, signed a landmark supply-chain collaboration designed to advance domestic manufacturing, integration, and sovereign capability development within the UAE defence ecosystem.
Beyond Gulf carriers, Day 3 attracted key orders and new Airbus customers from emerging markets. Libya’s Buraq Air selected the Airbus A320neo family as its first-ever jet type, marking its debut as an Airbus customer and signalling a strategic leap for the Libyan carrier’s regional growth.
Uzbekistan Airways signed leasing agreements for six Airbus A321neo jets from two Chinese lessors, boosting Central Asia’s fleet modernisation drive. In a major supply-chain development, Riyadh Air placed a firm order for 120 CFM LEAP-1A engines to power its 60 A321neo aircraft, including spares strengthening Saudi Arabia’s next-generation fleet momentum.
Cargo and widebody segments also maintained traction as Silk Way West Airlines doubled its A350F commitment, and Airbus solidified yet another customer relationship through Buraq Air’s new A320neo order, which EVP Benoit de Saint-Exupéry stated “reinforces the A320neo as the aircraft of choice for fleet modernisation.”
With record deals across commercial, cargo, and defence sectors, Day 3 at Dubai Airshow 2025 underscored a region accelerating into the next era of aviation—led by domestic growth, global partnerships, and rapidly advancing fleet strategies. The industry now looks ahead to the remaining days, with expectations of further strategic announcements across sustainability, space, and future mobility.
As the sun set on a dynamic Wednesday at the Dubai Airshow 2025, Day 3 proved to be a showcase of ambitious fleet expansion, regional industrial partnerships, and power-packed announcements led by UAE carriers Emirates and flydubai. With new entrants, leasing agreements, defence localisation, and major engine purchases, the day reflected a market hungry for growth and technological transformation.
