Airbus has been a long-standing partner of the Middle East, providing fuel-efficient aircraft, modern helicopters, and advanced military and space solutions across the region.
Commercial Aircraft
The Middle East is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. The airlines of the region are setting the standards for the future of global commercial aviation. Their fleets are some of the youngest in the world and their levels of excellence are the new benchmark for passenger comfort, operating efficiency and network connectivity.
Airbus is constantly introducing the most efficient passenger airliners to serve the needs of the dynamic region. Today, the region's leading airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Saudia, Air Arabia, Kuwait Airways and others are operating some of the most technologically advanced aircraft such as the A350, A330neo, A320neo and the A220.
Airbus offers customer services to the region that include training and technical support, one of the five Airbus Material & Logistics Centres (Satair), and Airbus Corporate Jets that brings together all commercial, programme and support activities related to corporate and private jets in a seamless in-house unit.
Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters has been present in the Middle East region for over 40 years. Its modern product range incorporates the latest technology to meet evolving applications that include anti-piracy, counter-insurgency and border patrol missions, emergency medical airlift, search & rescue as well as the servicing of offshore oil and gas platforms and Executive and VIP transport.
Airbus is further increasing its Middle Eastern footprint with a customer-oriented strategy based on teaming with local partners for helicopter fleet modernisation, overhauling and maintenance. This includes a new technical office in Pakistan, working with the Falcon Aviation Services maintenance centre in the United Arab Emirates and cooperating with GAL-AMMROC for helicopter overhauls.
Airbus is developing a regional industrial base relying on Eurocopter Kingdom Saudi Arabia, its largest subsidiary located in Saudi Arabia with more than 120 engineers and technicians dedicated to the maintenance, overhaul and modernisation.
Defence
Airbus Defence and Space has been a reliable and strong industrial partner to the region since the 1970s.
Today, over 150 military aircraft have been delivered in the region, including the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport Aircraft (MRTT) to the UAE Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force.
As part of the Eurofighter Consortium, Airbus is manufacturing the world's most advanced combat aircraft currently available on the world market of which more than 135 have been ordered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
Space
Airbus offers a wide portfolio of Earth observation satellite capabilities and services to governments and institutions. It has built numerous telecom satellites that provide Middle East coverage and enable crucial communications services across the region.
Airbus holds a contract with the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates for the development, manufacturing and launch of Falcon Eye, a high-performance optical Earth-observation satellite system. The contract includes the manufacture of two satellites with high-resolution optical capabilities and a ground system for monitoring, receiving and processing images, as well as a training programme for the engineers from the UAE who will control and operate the satellite once in orbit.
Made in the Middle East
Driven by the corporate vision of imagination, innovation and meeting the challenges of the future of flight, Airbus is investing in strategic manufacturing partnerships and commercial agreements across the Middle East region.
Airbus partners in these countries include local organisations from both the public and private sectors. Not only does this contribute to the Airbus global supply chain efficiency but also brings numerous and high-end skilled jobs which make significant contributions to the local economies.
In the UAE, Strata produces composite components for the A330, A330neo, A350 XWB aircraft while Tawazun Precision Industries (TPI) manufactures metallic parts for the A320, A320neo and A330 programmes.
Airbus' mission in the Middle East is to sustain and help drive the future growth of the region’s aviation industry and to enhance its contribution to the regional economies.
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