From 12 to 14 May next year, the 25th edition of the 'Airports' exhibition will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with the participation of more than 150 exhibitors from over 30 countries. It will also feature over 7,000 visitors from 30 countries over three days, in addition to 120 hosted buyers.
According to a statement issued yesterday, the event will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, President and Chief Executive of Emirates and Group. During the event, several airports will showcase their new projects and purchase the required technological products.
Concurrent conferences will be held as part of the exhibition, including the Global Airport Leaders' Forum, Middle East Airport Security, Air Traffic Control Forum, and the 'Women in Aviation' Middle East Conference.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: "We share an ambition to build smarter, safer, and more sustainable airports, and to enhance the quality of service and facilities for both airlines and passengers... At Airports 2026, we come together to explore solutions, unify visions, and shape the future of airports."
Meanwhile, Mi Ismail, Exhibition Director at organizer RX Global, said: "Airports in this region play a significant role, with global passenger numbers expected to reach 17.7 billion by 2043." She noted that this densely populated region is poised to play a major role in the evolving aviation landscape by making substantial investments in developing and expanding its airport infrastructure and improving the passenger experience.
According to the statement, airport construction projects in the Middle East and North Africa region are in advanced stages, with 78.7% of the total project value in the 'pre-execution' and 'execution' phases. Saudi Arabia holds the largest share of project value at 42.5%, followed by the UAE at 26.8%, and then Bahrain at 7.6%.
Airports are focusing on sustainability through innovation in renewable energy, electric and autonomous vehicles, energy-efficient building design, waste reduction, and digital tools that improve operations.
Forecasts by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicate that passenger traffic in the Middle East will reach 530 million by 2043.
In July 2025, UK-based analytics firm Global Data reported that the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries are implementing 48 airport renovation, expansion, and new construction projects with a total value of $182.6 billion. The massive Dubai and Jeddah projects account for nearly 80% of airport development spending in the Middle East and North Africa region.
In turn, Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport is undergoing a massive expansion to become the world's largest airport. The airport will feature five parallel runways and 400 gates, with a targeted capacity to handle 260 million passengers annually. The expected cost of the airport is 128 billion dirhams ($34.8 billion).
The expansion of the passenger terminal at Sharjah International Airport is also expected to be completed by 2026, while Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is undergoing an ambitious expansion set for full completion by 2028.
