Dubai raised its profile as an aviation hub during the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) show 2024, which concluded Dec. 10 at the Dubai airshow site.
The event showcased cutting-edge businesses from 95 countries and highlighted advances in Dubai’s aviation industry. UAE’s growth in air travel investment amounts to a vertical integration of the country’s massive oil production with an industry relying on oil consumption.
Seeking to further the industry’s growth, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced “a comprehensive support framework for business and private aviation” designed to simplify regulation and certification of operators while maintaining the country’s high quality standards.
A full range of businesses
While Dubai is already well known as a hub for air travel. MEBAA also showcased the expansion of the businesses in the background of the industry, including certified maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operators.
Dubai is helping the Middle East build a reputation as a hub for MRO, ready to compete with the industry in Europe through improved quality and cost containment.
One of the leading MROs in Dubai, Aerospace Technical Services (ATS), made key announcements ahead of the MEBAA show. The announcements indicate ATS’ desire to lead with transparency and integrity, company officials said.
ATS, which is also a major global distributor of aviation parts alongside its MRO solutions, clarified its structure and ownership, stating that it “operates its headquarters and core facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan” and that “ATS is owned and operated by Mahdi Al-Tahaineh.”
ATS also announced a revised Code of Conduct to establish a robust ethical foundation for all ATS operations, providing clear, practical guidance for staff, management, and partners on professional integrity, anti-corruption, confidentiality, data protection, and ethical behavior.
“We believe that a strong commitment to compliance is not just about adhering to regulations but also about doing what’s right for our employees, our clients, and the communities in which we operate,” said Mohammad AlMnaizel, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board at ATS. “This revised Code of Conduct is a testament to our ongoing commitment to ethical excellence and serves as a guiding principle for our organization.”
ATS’ reputation as an authority in MRO services, with a team of highly skilled technicians, engineers, and aviation experts, makes it one of the attractions for airlines considering certification in Dubai.
Continued growth for Dubai aviation
Businesses like ATS are certain to benefit from Dubai’s continued growth as a global hub for aviation and air transportation.
Dubai announced plans in the spring for a $35 billion expansion that would make their airport five times the size of their current site, with the goal of creating the biggest airport in the world.
The MEBAA show’s major international attendance indicated the growth in interest in Middle Eastern airports, also driven by expansion in Saudi Arabia.
The UAE is ready for the competition from the Saudis according to Aqeel Ahmed Abdelaziz Al Zarooni, GCAA’s assistant director general for aviation safety affairs.
“Competition is healthy. Competition is something we encourage,” he said. “Regardless of whether it’s for business aviation or aviation in totality.”
