Aviation Transformation Across the MENA Region — H1 2026
The first half of 2026 has also seen significant transformation across several MENA aviation markets. These developments are reshaping not only airline networks, but also airports, logistics, digitalization, advanced air mobility, MRO, aviation manufacturing and the aviation workforce.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia — Comprehensive Aviation Transformation
Saudi Arabia remains the most prominent aviation transformation story in the region. Through its Aviation Program, the Kingdom is targeting 330 million annual passengers, more than 250 international destinations and 4.5 million tonnes of annual air-cargo capacity by 2030.
The transformation encompasses the entire aviation ecosystem:
- Riyadh Air and the expansion of national air connectivity
- King Salman International Airport development
- Airport capacity expansion and private-sector participation
- Air cargo and logistics development
- MRO and aviation manufacturing
- Digital aviation services
- Artificial intelligence and automation
- Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
- Development of national aviation talent
Saudi airports handled approximately 140.9 million passengers in 2025, a 9.6% increase, providing a strong foundation for the continued expansion during 2026.
A particularly important milestone in H1 2026 was the launch of Riyadh Air’s commercial operations, while Riyadh Cargo also began operations in January.
For MENASASI, the safety dimension of this transformation is particularly important: rapid growth requires corresponding development of safety oversight, SMS capability, operational expertise, human factors, infrastructure resilience and accident-investigation capacity.
🇦🇪 UAE — Resilience of a Global Aviation Hub
The UAE continues to develop one of the world’s most interconnected aviation ecosystems, centered around Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The first half of 2026 demonstrated both the strength and vulnerability of the Gulf hub model. Regional disruption placed significant pressure on Dubai’s aviation network, but the hub’s connectivity, infrastructure and airline network continued to provide substantial resilience.
For the UAE, the next phase of transformation increasingly involves:
- Airport capacity and infrastructure
- Digital passenger processing
- Airspace resilience
- Sustainability
- Advanced aviation technologies
- Global connectivity
- Operational resilience
The H1 experience also reinforces the importance of business continuity and crisis-management capability for major international aviation hubs.
🇶🇦 Qatar — Hub Resilience and Network Development
Qatar continues to develop Doha as a major global aviation hub, with Qatar Airways maintaining an extensive international network.
The regional disruption during H1 2026 demonstrated the importance of Doha’s contingency planning, airspace management and operational resilience. The experience also highlighted the strategic importance of Gulf hubs as connecting points between Asia, Europe and Africa.
For the safety community, the key transformation is the movement toward more resilient and adaptable hub operations, supported by advanced technology, integrated operational control and real-time safety information.
🇴🇲 Oman — Building a More Competitive Aviation Ecosystem
Oman is also pursuing aviation-sector transformation through the development of Muscat and other airports, airline network development, logistics and tourism connectivity.
During H1 2026, Oman Air demonstrated an important regional role during periods of disruption, while the airline continued to consider fleet and network developments. This highlights Oman’s potential as an alternative routing and connectivity point within the wider Gulf aviation system.
The country’s strategic position also makes airspace resilience, emergency preparedness and regional coordination particularly relevant.
🇲🇦 Morocco — Long-Term Hub and Fleet Transformation
Morocco is positioning Casablanca as an increasingly important aviation gateway between Africa, Europe and the Americas.
Royal Air Maroc has a major fleet-expansion program, with plans to acquire up to 200 aircraft by 2037, while Morocco is also expanding airport infrastructure. A new Casablanca airport terminal is planned to increase capacity substantially.
This represents an important transformation beyond the Gulf and demonstrates that MENA aviation growth is increasingly linked to Africa–Europe–Americas connectivity.
🌍 The Broader MENA Transformation
Across the region, aviation is moving from a traditional model focused primarily on airlines and airports toward an integrated aviation ecosystem involving:
Airlines → Airports → ANSPs → MRO → Cargo & Logistics → Digital Aviation → AI → AAM → Sustainability → Aviation Manufacturing → Human Capital → Safety & Security
This transformation creates new opportunities but also new safety challenges.
What This Means for Aviation Safety
The speed of aviation development across MENA means that safety systems must evolve at the same pace.
Key areas requiring continued attention include:
- Safety Management Systems (SMS)
- State Safety Programmes
- Human factors and safety culture
- GNSS interference and navigation resilience
- Cybersecurity
- Advanced Air Mobility
- Drone operations
- AI and automation
- Airport capacity and congestion
- MRO and supply-chain resilience
- Aviation workforce development
- Accident and incident investigation
- Crisis and conflict-zone risk management
MENASASI Perspective
The transformation taking place across MENA presents a significant opportunity for MENASASI to strengthen its role as a regional aviation safety knowledge and professional network.
As new airlines, airports, technologies and aviation services emerge, maintaining a strong safety culture and ensuring that safety expertise grows alongside the industry will be essential.
MENASASI will continue to monitor these developments and provide a platform for aviation safety professionals across the region to share knowledge, lessons learned and best practices.