Dubai Airshow order rumours: The airlines expected to buy aircraft at the show
November 14, 2025
With just days to go until the 2025 Dubai Airshow opens its doors, the aviation world is abuzz with rumours of orders that could be placed during the show.
Taking place from 17 – 21 November, Dubai Airshow is one of the biggest and most significant trade shows in the aviation calendar. It often plays host to the signing of billions of dollars in aircraft deals.
In 2023, more than $80 billion of commitments were signed for around 1,300 aircraft. Given that backdrop, expectations are somewhat tempered for 2025, but there’s definitely expected to be some order action.
AGN has rounded up the latest Dubai Airshow order rumours; we will see which ones come true.
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Dubai Airshow aircraft order rumours
According to Dr Stuart Hatcher, Chief Economist at aviation data and consultancy firm IBA, we can expect to see more than 300 commercial aircraft orders in Dubai next week.
While defence delegations are prominent at the airshow, it is unusual for military purchases to be announced during the week itself. The bulk of the attention, therefore, is focused squarely on the commercial side.
The airlines rumoured to be ordering in Dubai
| Airline / Lessor | Aircraft Mentioned | Notes | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etihad | A330neo, additional A350s | Evaluating widebody additions | 🟢 High |
| Emirates | 30 A350-1000s | Long-delayed order expected | 🟢 High |
| flydubai | Boeing + Airbus (possible split) | Potential first-ever mixed narrowbody fleet | 🟡 Medium |
| Turkish Airlines | 150 737 MAX, 75 787-9/-10 | Large deal already announced; Dubai confirmation likely | 🟢 High |
| AviLease | A320neo, A350F, 737 MAX 8 | Could convert options or top up orders | 🟡 Medium |
| Riyadh Air | 25 A350-1000s | Formal signing/visibility expected | 🟢 High |
| Gulf Air | 12–18 Boeing 787s | Announced earlier; may be formally showcased | 🟡 Medium |
| Saudia | TBD | Future fleet strategy expected | 🔴 Low |
| Air India | TBD widebody / narrowbody | Order could counter IndiGo expansion | 🔴 Low |
| Oman Air | Future widebody needs | Decisions unlikely until next year | 🔴 Low |
| Royal Air Maroc | Potential 787 / narrowbody mix | Fleet needs to scale significantly | 🔴 Low |
| EgyptAir | A350-900 additions | Recently topped up orders; no new rumour | 🔴 Low |
The airlines almost certain to order at Dubai Airshow
Rumours have emerged that both Emirates and Etihad are gearing up to announce orders at the airshow. Emirates is rumoured to order 30 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft as well as options to increase the commitment further down the line. It has previously been reluctant to opt for the type due to concerns over engine performance.
At the Dubai Airshow in 2023, Emirates President Tim Clark said that the engines are unable to offer sufficient time on the wing until the next maintenance cycle for the carrier to warrant an order. If “they can do that at a maintenance cost per hour that’s alright for us,” he said, Emirates would order the plane.
When Qatar Airways opted for up to 210 widebody Boeing aircraft earlier this year, that was partially down to engine performance concerns with the A350-1000, sources told Bloomberg.
Etihad Airways is apparently eying the Airbus A330neo: a first for the three major Gulf airlines. Etihad Airways does have experience with the aircraft family, having operated the Airbus A330ceo in the past. It retired its last in 2020. It is also looking at more Airbus A350s, sources told Reuters.
Some of the rumoured orders are more about formal signings for earlier letters of intent or MoUs.
Among those predicted to use the platform for a high-profile formalisation are:
- Gulf Air: Announced at least 12 787s with six options in July when Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa visited the White House
- Turkish Airlines: When it revealed an order last month for 75 787-9s and -10s, the airline admitted it had completed negotiations for 150 Boeing 737 MAX planes
- Riyadh Air’s A350 orders were also revealed in Paris, with 25 firm commitments and options for another 25
While the Turkish order is reported to be concluded, Boeing is not out of the woods with the airline just yet. Negotiations are ongoing for an engine supplier, and the airline is driving a hard bargain.
CEO Ahmet Bolat told Reuters that if engine agreements stall, “we’ll turn another page” and look to Airbus.
Other Dubai Airshow order rumours are less certain
On the list of possible orders is AviLease, which announced 10 A350Fs and 30 A320neos in Paris in June, and 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8s in May. It could exercise its options for any of these aircraft types in Dubai.
Saudia is expected to announce its future fleet strategy as it settles in as the country’s second carrier after the newly launched Riyadh Air. It signed for 10 A330neos in April this year with 10 options, and could well excercise those options to shine the spotlight on its fleet renewal.
Air India was expected to announce an order at the 2025 Paris Air Show earlier this year. However, following the tragic accident involving one of its Boeing 787 aircraft, this remained a rumour. In Dubai, an order might be possible as it looks to counter IndiGo’s aggressive expansion plans and grow and renew its own operation.
Elsewhere, IBA believes Oman Air, Gulf Air, Royal Air Maroc and EgyptAir to be “potentially shy of where they need to be to satisfy fleet growth and replacement requirements.”
EgyptAir made important decisions earlier this year when it publicly revealed the purchase of six more Airbus A350-900 planes in Paris. This built on its commitment for 10 back at the Dubai Air Show in 2023.
In July, Gulf Air announced the purchase of 12 Boeing 787s with options for six more to facilitate international expansion.
Oman Air admitted earlier this year, in an interview with Aviation Week, that it would need additional capacity in the 2030s. However, it said in June that a decision is expected “sometime next year”, meaning it might not announce anything just yet.
Royal Air Maroc, which announced two new Boeing 787 routes to Boston and Los Angeles earlier this week, will also need more planes. It hopes to quadruple its fleet – which currently totals 60 planes – by 2037. For that, no doubt, it will eventually need to sign for additional orders.
Finally, low-cost flydubai might also make a statement. Airbus is pushing for an order with the company, though Boeing is also trying its luck. Sources told Reuters that a split deal between the two is likely, although nothing is confirmed just yet.
Featured image: franz massard | stock.adobe.com
