The total seat capacity of UAE carriers in January 2026 reached approximately 7.15 million seats. Emirates led the region as the largest airline, with its seat capacity increasing by 5.3% to reach 3.4 million seats, compared to 3.2 million in January of last year, 2025. The civil aviation sector in the UAE has shown significant growth since the beginning of 2026, according to a report by OAG, a company specializing in aviation data analysis. FlyDubai recorded a growth of 12.7%, increasing its seat capacity to 1.4 million seats, compared to 1.23 million in January of last year. Meanwhile, Etihad Airways achieved the fastest growth rate at 24.5%.
