COMAC to make historic debut at Dubai Airshow 2025
November 3, 2025
The Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) will make its first appearance at the Dubai Airshow in 2025. The biennial event, one of the world’s largest aerospace showcases, will take place from November 17–21 at Dubai World Central, under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.
COMAC’s Middle East debut
Organisers confirmed that COMAC will attend the Dubai Airshow for the first time. “COMAC will have four aircraft on display, as well as taking part in the actual flying display,” said Timothy Hawes, Managing Director of Informa Markets, the show’s organiser, told The National News.
COMAC’s attendance at the Dubai Airshow follows a visit to China by a delegation led by Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in July. The delegation held “high-level meetings and field visits with several Chinese aerospace manufacturers, including COMAC,” The National News reported, citing UAE state news agency Wam. Al Suwaidi met with COMAC Vice Chairman Shen Bo and toured the planemaker’s production facilities, discussing its plans and potential joint industrial opportunities.
Although the show’s organisers did not specify which models COMAC will bring, reports from Chinese and international media suggest that the company plans to showcase its C919 narrowbody jet and the C909 regional jet, formerly marketed as the ARJ21. According to the South China Morning Post, the manufacturer is “scouting for Middle Eastern buyers” and will use the show to highlight both aircraft as viable alternatives to Airbus and Boeing narrowbody models.
The Aircraft: COMAC C919 and C909
The C919, China’s first domestically developed single-aisle airliner, powered by CFM International LEAP-1C engines, was designed to compete directly with Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX families. In May, the type’s three current operators’ (China Eastern, Air China, and China Southern airlines) marked two years in service for their combined total of 18 C919 active aircraft. They have carried over 2 million passengers on 24 routes connecting 16 cities, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
The three current Chinese operators expect to have a fleet of 100 C919s each by 2031. However, COMAC’s current production rate is slow, with only 12 units delivered last year. The company aimed to deliver 50 units this year, though Cirium projected closer to 27, as Reuters reported in January. In 2023, COMAC announced plans to ramp up production to achieve an annual delivery rate of 150 aircraft by 2028.
As it works to increase production, COMAC is also hoping to achieve international certifications and begin exporting the type to global markets. Recently, Brunei’s aviation regulator announced that it would authorise airlines to operate aircraft certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC), opening up opportunities for COMAC in Southeast Asia.
In Dubai, COMAC is also expected to display its C909 (formerly the ARJ21), a 78- to 90-seat regional jet that has been rebranded for global marketing and supports COMAC’s international expansion strategy. The C909 counts around 166 aircraft in service. Chinese carriers operating the type include launch customer Chengdu Airlines, Air China, China Eastern, and China Express. The C909 has also earned support outside China, with Indonesia’s TransNusa and Lao Airlines, operating leased aircraft. VietJet also trialled the C909 on a short-lived lease but ceased operations after six months.
COMAC seeking new buyers
For COMAC, Dubai offers an opportunity to expand beyond its domestic base and reach potential customers in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia who may be open to new aircraft types, especially those offering competitive operating costs.
COMAC’s appearance comes amid China’s broader effort to promote its aerospace industry internationally. However, winning significant export customers will depend on COMAC securing certification from international regulators, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The company’s participation in Dubai’s flying display reflects confidence in its aircraft performance and readiness for global scrutiny. COMAC could highlight the C919’s two-year in-service efficiency and reliability data, as well as the regional connectivity potential of the smaller C909.
While Airbus and Boeing continue to dominate the regional market, the emergence of a Chinese competitor could offer carriers and lessors an alternative source for narrowbody and regional jets.
A global stage for Chinese Aviation
The Dubai Airshow itself is an ideal platform. Organisers expect more than 1,500 exhibitors from around 150 countries and over 148,000 visitors this year, making the 2025 edition the largest in its history. The show will feature more than 200 aircraft in static and flying displays, new eVTOL demonstrations, and dedicated areas for space and sustainability technologies.
At a press conference announcing the show’s programme this month, Dubai Airport CEO Paul Griffiths said: “Dubai Airshow 2025 comes at a defining moment for aviation and aerospace, as technology, sustainability and global connectivity converge to reshape how the world moves. It reflects the UAE’s ambition to lead in these sectors and Dubai’s role as a hub for collaboration, a stage for innovation, and the place where the future of our industry takes shape.”
Tim Hawes described the 19th Dubai Airshow as the “most ambitious edition” yet. “Our goal is to deliver outcomes that matter, through partnerships, investment, and measurable progress. With the UAE at the forefront of aviation, Dubai Airshow is set to be the global stage where industry visionaries converge to define the future of aerospace,” he said.
COMAC could well fit that vision of the future. Whether COMAC’s presence in Dubai will translate into new international sales remains to be seen. But its participation alone is significant, with China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer stepping onto one of the world’s most visible aviation stages, intent on showing that its aircraft can compete in the global marketplace.
Featured Image: COMAC
