GCC General Aviation Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)

GCC General Aviation Market Trends and Insights

Rising Demand for Large-Cabin and Ultra-Long-Range Business Jets

Corporate buyers and ultra-high-net-worth individuals prefer aircraft that can fly non-stop from Dubai or Riyadh to London, New York, or Singapore. Qatar Executive already operates six Gulfstream G700s and plans to take four more by early 2026. Gulfstream lists more than 120 jets home-based in the Middle East, and 18- to 24-month lead times point to sustained backlog pressure.^{[1]Gulfstream Aerospace, “Middle East Market Presence and Delivery Timelines,” gulfstream.com} RoyalJet ordered three Airbus ACJ320neos and holds six options, widening the premium narrowbody niche. Hub-and-spoke geography, long stage lengths, and VIP cabin expectations render super-mid-size aircraft less relevant, encouraging operators such as NasJet to double down on the G650/G700 family.

Government-Led Airport and General Aviation Infrastructure Expansion

Saudi Arabia aims to generate USD 2 billion in general aviation activity by 2030 and is budgeting six dedicated general aviation airports. Dubai’s Al Maktoum project triples FBO capacity and reserves segregated ramp space for business jets. Jetex opened its first FBO at Red Sea International in 2024, marking the beginning of a nationwide rollout of five new aviation gateways under Vision 2030.^{[2]Jetex, “Red Sea International Airport FBO Opening,” jetex.com} Falcon Aviation Services has committed USD 100 million for a 13,705-square-meter MRO hangar at Al Maktoum. Oman’s civil aviation regulator has reduced the processing time for foreign aircraft permits from 14 days to 72 hours, diverting transient traffic away from Dubai and Doha.

Dubai’s Emergence as a Regional General Aviation Hub

Dubai South logged 17,891 movements in 2024, representing a 7% year-over-year increase, and aims to reach 18,000 by the end of 2026. ExecuJet opened a flagship FBO at the airport in December 2024 and secured European Aviation Safety Agency approval for Global 7500 maintenance in January 2025. DC Aviation Al-Futtaim expanded its managed and charter portfolio to nine aircraft and joined the Air Elite network in October 2025, gaining reciprocal handling at more than 240 locations. The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority typically issues general aviation permits within 48 hours, which contrasts with the week-long approvals that are often required elsewhere. Jetex and Wright Electric are rolling out electric-aircraft charging at over 30 FBOs, starting in Dubai, with the intention of targeting hybrid-electric business jet service by 2028.

Liberalization of General Aviation Regulations and FBO Licensing

Saudi Arabia opened its domestic sectors to foreign charter operators in May 2025; Vista Global immediately gained approval and now serves the Riyadh-Jeddah and Riyadh-Dammam routes. The UAE’s 2024 CAR-66 rollout recognizes European licenses, easing inflows of qualified engineers. Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation trimmed FBO-license processing to 90 days and cut capital requirements by 40%, attracting three new applicants in early 2025. Bahrain’s tiered permit system, launched in 2024, lowered entry costs for operators with small fleets.

Shortage of Qualified Pilots and Maintenance Personnel

The Boeing Company projects that the Middle East will need 46,000 pilots and 62,000 technicians by 2043, yet regional flight academies graduate only about 750 professionals annually.^{[3]Boeing, “Pilot and Technician Forecast for Middle East 2024-2043,” boeing.com} Emirates alone plans to hire 5,000 pilots over the next five years, prompting business-jet operators to offer high salaries. Horizon International Flight Academy produces 250 cadets annually, while the Saudi Aviation Club trains approximately 500 students, which falls short of the 1,200 pilots required each year. MRO shops face similar gaps; foreign engineers still wait up to 12 months for work visas despite CAR-66 reforms. Wet-leasing with crews from Europe and North America plugs short-term holes but raises hourly costs by 20%–30% for Gulf operators.

Airspace Congestion and Slot Constraints at Major Airports

Dubai International handled 92.30 million passengers in 2024, retaining top global status and leaving minimal peak-hour slots for general aviation. Dubai South picked up the overflow, registering a 15% flight-volume surge in H1-2025 versus H1-2024. Required Navigation Performance corridors added in 2024 boost capacity by 15%, yet 40% of turboprop and piston aircraft lack compliant avionics. Qatar’s Hamad International still enforces two-hour buffers on executive movements during major event rushes, forcing Qatar Executive to pre-position jets elsewhere. Saudi Arabia’s dedicated general aviation airport program will alleviate pressure, but the first three sites are not expected to open before 2028.

Segment Analysis

By Aircraft Type: Business Jets Anchor Market, eVTOLs Set the Pace

The business jets segment accounted for 67.24% of the GCC general aviation market share in 2025, driven by nonstop demand for routes to London, New York, and Singapore. Qatar Executive's six-strong G700 fleet exemplifies the premium cabin tilt, while RoyalJet's ACJ320neo order signals rising interest in narrowbody VIP types. Turboprops satisfy Saudi Aramco's remote field shuttles, and piston aircraft remain entrenched in flight schools; yet, both niches account for less than 15% of flying hours.

The eVTOL segment is expected to grow at the highest 17.21% CAGR through 2031, following Joby Aviation's delivery of its first unit in June 2025 and The Helicopter Company's preparation of a 2025 request for proposals covering up to 200 craft. Rotorcraft continue to underpin offshore energy, police, and emergency medical services, with The Helicopter Company operating 58 helicopters as of 2025 and planning 30 dedicated EMS birds by the end of 2026.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Propulsion Type: Conventional Dominance Faces Electric Disruption

Conventional piston/turbine engines controlled 87.65% of the GCC general aviation market size in 2025; however, all-electric systems are expected to expand at an 18.64% CAGR to 2031. Wright Electric and Jetex are installing 30 fast-charging stations to cover 540 km of hybrid-jet legs by 2028. Hydrogen-electric initiatives, such as JEKTA’s PHA-ZE 100 and Beyond Aero’s BYA-1, aim for 2030 entries, but fueling infrastructure remains nascent beyond the Dubai South pilots.^{[4]JEKTA, “PHA-ZE 100 Hydrogen-Electric Aircraft Development,” jekta.ch}

Hybrid-electric turboprops, illustrated by Daher’s EcoPulse demonstrator, offer transitional efficiency while retaining conventional range, making them attractive for Saudi-Arabia’s oil-field hops. Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines continue to dominate the longest-range missions, and turbine powerplants will likely preserve the bulk of premium-cabin segments through at least 2035.

By Ownership Model: Charter Growth Challenges Full Ownership

Full private ownership represented 41.16% of 2025 activity; however, charter and air-taxi operators are on track for a 15.45% CAGR, as Gulf corporations prefer asset-light access to lift. Vista Global secured USD 1.3 billion in April 2025 funding to scale, and its Saudi domestic-charter permissions widen the addressable pool by 47% of local departures.

Managed fleets also expand. For instance, DC Aviation Al-Futtaim added eight diverse jets between 2023 and 2025 and joined Air Elite to guarantee service at 240 airports. Government mission fleets, notably The Helicopter Company’s EMS and security assets, follow multi-year contracts that stabilize demand regardless of macro cycles.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By End-User Application: Corporate Transport Leads, Medical Services Accelerate

Business/corporate transport accounted for 48.78% of flying hours in 2025, as large Gulf conglomerates maintained robust travel budgets, even amid fluctuations in oil prices. Emergency medical services are expected to log a 15.82% CAGR through 2031. The Saudi Red Crescent deal includes 28 helicopters and up to six fixed-wing air ambulances over four years, reducing Riyadh-Tabuk transfer times to 90 minutes.

Private leisure flying still lags due to limited general aviation airports and high operating costs, yet Oman’s 72-hour permit timeline now encourages more foreign-registered arrivals. Special-mission tasks, border patrol, law enforcement, and offshore surveillance remain niche but strategic, involving King Air 350s, Pilatus PC-12s, and Leonardo AW139 helicopters.

Geography Analysis

The UAE commanded 38.01% of the GCC general aviation market share in 2025, driven by increasing departures from Dubai and the expansion of Al Maktoum, which is expected to triple FBO throughput. ExecuJet’s luxury FBO and EASA Global 7500 approval, plus Falcon Aviation’s USD 100 million MRO build, deepen the services ecosystem. Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, is positioning itself as the GCC’s eVTOL test bed through its Archer Aviation partnership, with trial flights set for 2026. Wright Electric’s regional charging network initiative aligns with projections that 35% of intra-GCC sectors fall within a 540-km electric range envelope.

Saudi Arabia is projected to post a 16.27% CAGR, the fastest in the bloc, as Vision 2030 mandates six GA-only airports and eliminates domestic-charter protectionism. Jetex’s Red Sea FBO and Joby Aviation’s 200-aircraft framework deal exemplify the momentum of foreign investment. The Helicopter Company plans 30 EMS rotorcraft by 2026, while Mukamalah Aviation and Archer Aviation eye urban-air-mobility corridors linking Riyadh’s new downtown to King Khalid International.

Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain together hold under a 20% market share but benefit from spillover traffic when Dubai or Doha face curfews or slot caps. Oman’s fast-track permits, Kuwait’s 90-day FBO licensing, and Bahrain’s light-permit tier have already lured a trio of start-ups focusing on piston and turboprop niches.