Bikram Vohra
The heat haze shimmering over the tarmac at Dubai World Central (DWC) is more than just a mirage; it’s a reflection of ambition made real. What began in 1986 as a modest gathering named “Arab Air” has, nearly four decades later, matured into the Dubai Airshow. In this global phenomenon, the future of flight is not just displayed, but decisively shaped. It is right up there with Farnborough and Le Bourget.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the airshow is a state-level declaration of the industry’s strategic importance. It provides a global stage for Dubai’s flagship carriers, Emirates and flydubai, to unveil landmark orders that ripple through the international market, shaping fleet strategies for decades.
The story of the airshow is, in many ways, the story of Dubai itself: a narrative of relentless growth, visionary strategy, and an unwavering belief in the power of connectivity. From its humble origins at the Dubai World Trade Centre to its upcoming 2025 edition this November, the event has evolved in lockstep with the city, transforming from a regional bazaar into the boardroom for the global aerospace industry.
The milestones tell a story of explosive growth. The first official airshow in 1989, hosted at the city’s original airport, featured just 25 aircraft. The 2001 edition, held under the long shadow of 9/11, defied global anxiety to secure a then-record $15.6 billion in orders, proving its resilience. The 2013 show shattered all expectations, with a staggering $206.1 billion in deals announced, a figure that cemented its place alongside Le Bourget and Farnborough as a must-attend event.
Each chapter reflects the industry’s shifting tides—from the Middle East debut of the behemoth Airbus A380 in Emirates livery in 2005 to the 2017 show’s dominance by narrowbody orders for low-cost carriers, signalling a new era of mass travel.
To call the Dubai Airshow an aircraft exhibition is to call the Louvre an art gallery—technically accurate, but missing the scale and significance. Today, it is a comprehensive ecosystem.
The thunderous flying displays of fighter jets and commercial airliners remain the heart-pounding soundtrack, but the soul of the event is found in its dedicated pavilions. At the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Pavilion, the silent, electric lift-off of eVTOLs (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft) offers a glimpse of a near future where “flying taxis” are expected to grace Dubai’s skies by 2026. Nearby, the sprawling Space Pavilion, launched with the UAE Space Agency, underscores a national ambition that now stretches beyond the stratosphere.
“The conferences have become where the industry’s compass is calibrated,” says a veteran aviation analyst. With hundreds of speakers, the agenda is a roll-call of the most pressing issues: sustainable aviation fuels, the AI revolution in maintenance, and the logistics of a new mobility age.
It’s also a colossal networking engine. With over 1,400 exhibitors and 148,000 professionals from nearly 100 countries, the event is a humming marketplace. Deals are not just announced on stage; they are forged in the chalets and on the stands, driving the enormous figures reported year after year.
This consistent ability to attract the industry’s highest decision-makers has been instrumental in bolstering Dubai’s reputation as a visionary aviation hub, directly fuelling the growth of Dubai International (DXB) into one of the world’s busiest airports.
The 2025 Experience: Where Business Meets the Future
For the visitor in 2025, the airshow is a five-day immersion into the possible. By day, they can chart a course from the static displays of hulking commercial jets to hands-on workshops exploring a greener aviation future. They can witness the silent dance of drone swarms and then network with pioneers at VISTA, a dedicated hub pulsating with the energy of startups and investors.
As the sun sets, the event transforms. The new evening program features breathtaking drone light shows and live performances against a backdrop of aircraft silhouettes. The networking continues at the now-legendary “Party on the Runway,” an exclusive event where, under the desert stars, the industry’s leaders let their hair down to the sound of DJs, surrounded by the very machines that make their work possible.
The Dubai Airshow is no longer just an event on the calendar. It is a statement. It is the place where the world lands to witness and to conduct the business of the future.
Bikram Vohra is the Consulting Editor of Indian Aerospace & Defence.
