Etihad, flydubai bags mega Airbus orders + Al Maktoum airport to attract up to USD 15.5 bn investments

1

What we're tracking today

TODAY: Flydubai, Etihad bag mega Airbus orders for 182 jets

Good morning, folks. We’re inching close to the weekend with another packed issue, led by the spate of jet orders and aviation collab agreements trickling in from the Dubai Airshow. PLUS: More big updates for UAE air and sea ports. But first, let’s take a look at the world’s latest internet outage, courtesy of Cloudflare…

THE BIG LOGISTICS STORY- Cloudflare restored its services on Tuesday after a major outage crashed its network, blocking access to major parts of the internet. The outage came after an oversized automated security configuration file crashed parts of its network, disrupting access to major platforms, including X and chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude.

The outage highlights the web’s vulnerability to “single points of failure,” as the internet largely depends on a few providers to host and manage websites’ traffic. Cloudflare alone, as a cybersecurity and internet infrastructure provider, provides one service or another to around a fifth of the world’s websites.

REMEMBER- This year saw a handful of high-profile disruptions, in which outages in major internet infrastructure providers Microsoft’s Azure cloud services, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud, took parts of the internet offline on separate occasions.

HAPPENING TODAY-

The Dubai Airshow is on its third day and will run through until Friday, 21 November at Dubai World Central. Focusing on a diverse range of subjects — including aerospace technology advancements, sustainable aviation solutions, and cybersecurity — the conference will host some 135k attendees and around 1.4k exhibitors. There will be 192 aircraft on display with USD 101.5 bn orders already booked, according to the event brochure (pdf).

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Morocco’s Dakhla Port is halfway there: Construction of Morocco’s USD 1 bn Dakhla Port on the Atlantic Ocean is nearly 50% complete and is scheduled to wrap up by the end of 2028, Sabah Aghadir reported last week, citing Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka.

REFRESHER- Morocco’s Dakhla Port — previously said to kick off operations in 2030 — aims to serve as a gateway to the Atlantic for African Sahel countries. The port has 800k hectares of land allocated to sustainable energy projects, intending to capitalize on exports to Europe. Officials from Morocco, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger met in 2023 to discuss the initiative for countries in the Sahel region.

#2- Temporary ice on the US-Sino trade war could potentially slash logistics costs — following the one-year truce between the two major economies, DP World’s managing director for sub-Saharan Africa Mohammed Akoojee told Bloomberg. “It will definitely be positive for the cost of logistics… up until now, the trade war has increased the cost of logistics in terms of freight rates and duties,” Akoojee added.

Trade tensions served some, however: The year-long trade tensions and sweeping tariffs have created windows for new regions like the African continent — as duties that limit shipments from China open a market window for alternative transit points and building a larger manufacturing base, Akoojee said.

Lobbying for West Africa: The port operator is now funneling new investments toward West Africa — specifically Nigeria and Senegal. It is investing USD 1.2 bn in a new port in Senegal, as well as a large distribution business in Nigeria. DP World is also linking its African expansion plans to supporting the flow of critical minerals from nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a booming market that the logistics provider is focusing on along with multinational firms to secure access to supplies, Akoojee added.

#3- South Korea signs onto UAE’s Stargate AI megaproject: Seoul will partner with the UAE on its US-backed Stargate UAE initiative to build one of the world’s largest AI data campuses, Reuters reports, citing a government announcement from South Korea made during President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Abu Dhabi.

The two countries also inked a framework agreement to increase bilateral AI investment, including in infrastructure, supply chains, and R&D. They will also explore projects ranging from co-operating hyperscale AI data centers to global AI smart port projects.

REFRESHER- Stargate UAE, announced during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the UAE in May, is set to be the first deployment of the US’ wider USD 500 bn Stargate infrastructure program and will form part of a 5 GW US-UAE AI data center cluster. US players OpenAI, Nvidia, Cisco, Oracle, and Japan’s SoftBank are partnering on the project, which is set to open in 2026.

PSA-

#3- Dubai Ports rolls out AI system for instant approvals: The Dubai Ports Authority introduced an AI- and RPA-powered system that automatically issues operational approvals and safe-work permits for activities such as accepting dangerous goods, vessel bunkering, ship-waste discharge, and port-facility work, according to a press release. The platform will instantly process eligible requests — estimated at around 44k transactions a year — while routing exceptional cases to human review to maintain compliance.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices fell this morning amid oversupply concerns after reports of piled-up inventory in the US, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures fell USD 0.11 to trade at USD 64.78 / bbl as of 05:10 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped by USD 0.09 to USD 60.65 / bbl. The drop came after Tuesday’s gains that saw Brent rise 1.1% and WTI go up by 1.4%.

ON A REGIONAL NOTE- Adnoc signs new crude and trading agreements in China: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) signed three agreements at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, including an MoU between Adnoc Global Trading and China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) to explore a trading partnership across both companies’ refining and trading systems, Wam reports.

Meanwhile, Chinese state-owned refiner Yanchang Petroleum secured 2 mn bbl of Abu Dhabi Murban from Swiss trader Mercuria, as it shifts away from Russian oil imports amid looming sanctions, Reuters reports, citing trade sources.

ICYMI- China and India have been absorbing surplus from the region as the world’s biggest importers shift away from Russian grades. Chinese refiners are taking several cargoes, while Indian processors marginally increased purchases through a series of tenders.

#2- Baltic index on an upwards streak: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — rose 2.9% to 2,216 on Tuesday, driven by the bigger size segment. The capesize gained 5.7% to 3,516, while the panamax index fell by 0.3% to 1,882. The smaller supramax index climbed 0.3% to 1,427.

#3- Atlantic LNG freight rates hit two-year high: Rising LNG exports from North America have driven up demand for tankers, pushing Atlantic freight rates for the super chilled fuel to a two-year peak, Bloomberg reports. The daily spot rate for chartering an LNG vessel for US-Europe delivery soared 19% on Monday, reaching nearly USD 98.3k — its highest level since January 2024, the outlet reported, citing data from Spark Commodities.

DATA POINTS-

The region’s aircraft fleet is expected to more than double by 2044, with more than 3k deliveries expected by then, according to Boeing’s 2025 Commercial Market Outlook (pdf). The aircraft manufacturer forecasts that the region’s airlines will need nearly 1.4k widebody passenger jets and another 1.4k narrow-body aircraft. Regional carriers are also set to bolster their freight capacity — with 185 freighter deliveries expected by 2044.

That’s not all: Regional carriers are also set to bolster their freight capacity — with 285 new and converted freighters expected to be added by 2044.

Behind the numbers: Middle Eastern airlines will see their share of global passenger traffic increase by more than 10% over the next 20 years — driven by accelerated tourism and trade entering the region. This is attributed to the region acting as a hub, well-located within an eight-hour flight range from 80% of the world’s total population.

AND- Airbus is forecasting even a bigger demand for the region: The MENA region aviation market will need 4k new aircraft over the next 20 years to meet strong regional demand, Airbus Executive VP Wouter Van Wersch told Asharq Business on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow. Widebody jets are set to account for 42% of that total.

Have you checked out EnterpriseAM MENA <> India? It’s our newest briefing tracking one of the world’s most dynamic trade, investment, and cultural corridors. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we’ll track the transactions, trends, and market moves connecting these two dynamic regions. The flow of capital, talent, and trade between MENA and the Indian subcontinent is one of the most important economic stories in the world — and we’re telling as only we can.

If you’re investing, trading, or scouting for your next big move in MENA or India, subscribe to EnterpriseAM MENA <> India by tapping here to get the strategic intelligence you need.

***YOU’RE READING EnterpriseAM Logistics, the essential MENA publication for senior execs who care about the industry that connects producers and retailers to global markets. We’re out Monday through Thursday by 9:15am in Cairo and Riyadh and 11:15am in the UAE.

EnterpriseAM Logistics is available without charge thanks to the generous support of our friends at Hassan Allam Utilities, Transmar, and AK-Ships.

Were you forwarded this email? Tap or click here to get your own copy of Enterprise Logistics.

Want to send us a story idea, request coverage, ask for a correction, or otherwise get in touch? Reach out to us on logistics@enterprisemea.com.

DID YOU KNOW that we also cover Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE ***

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Egypt will host the International Procurement Supply Chain Conference on Saturday, 6 December in Cairo. The event will gather over 1k delegates, more than 400 organizations, and over 30 global speakers to discuss the future of trade through keynotes and panel discussions. The discussions will center on Egypt’s transformation in the logistics sector, the future of smart ports and supply chains, as well as digital ecosystems.

Morocco is hosting the Rail Industry Summit on Tuesday, 9 December until Wednesday, 10 December in El Jadida. The two-day event will gather 130 exhibitors, 250 companies, and over 900 participants from 15 countries. It will feature business meetings, high-level conferences, and workshops focused on new market trends and future strategies.

Saudi Arabia is hosting the Saudi Airport Exhibition on Tuesday, 16 December until Wednesday, 17 December in Riyadh. Upwards of 10k global attendees are expected to participate in the event from over 100 countries. The two-day event will focus on airport-related innovation, and will feature participation from Saudia, SolitAir, and Amadeus.

Check out our full calendar at the bottom of this email for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events and news triggers.

Dubai Airshow’s Day Two racked in a slew of aircraft orders and collabs

The second day of the Dubai Airshow brought in a flurry of agreements from the region’s aviation giants, with Airbus snatching the bulk of new jet orders in contrast to the first day, which saw Boeing take the cake. Other signings also included leasing contracts, MRO agreements, as well as collabs on manufacturing, cargo, and SAF.

AIRBUS ORDERS-

#1- Etihad Airways is expanding its fleet with 32 Airbus widebody aircraft, secured via direct orders and lease arrangements, with the earliest delivery set for 2027, according to a press release. The direct orders include three A350F freighters, six A330-900s aircraft, and seven A350-1000s, according to a statement. The carrier will also lease nine A330-900s from Irish aviation leasing player Avolon.

All part of the bigger picture: Etihad Airways plans to acquire 200 aircraft by 2030 — including 60 widebodies — Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves noted at the Dubai Airshow. The firm will allocate USD 10 bn capital deployment over the next five years, funded entirely through cashflows, at USD 2 bn per year. This dovetails with the carrier’s plan to add 16 destinations this year.

Etihad’s growing fleet: Etihad Airways has so far committed to 60 widebody aircraft, following up on its USD 14.5 bn order for 28 Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft. The airline’s current operating fleet reached 115 aircraft this year — marking a 19% y-o-y increase from last year’s figures, with half of the boost coming from 3Q deliveries.

#2- Airbus snaps up long-awaited flydubai order: Dubai-based carrier flydubai placed an order with European manufacturer Airbus for 150 of the narrow-body A321 aircraft in a major expansion of the budget airline’s capacity, according to a statement. The value of the acquisition was not disclosed.

This is flydubai’s first Airbus order ever, reflecting the carrier’s push to diversify its fleet as it pursues its expansion plans, the National reported, citing the airline’s Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who is also Emirates’s chairman and CEO. The move surprised some industry analysts, who say that changing manufacturers is usually a fraught choice for carriers due to the associated operational complexity and cost hikes on both the operational and workforce levels, the National said. Flydubai currently operates a fleet of exclusively narrow-body Boeing models.

Background: flydubai has been expected to announce an order for 200 narrow-body planes from Boeing and Airbus at this week’s Dubai Airshow, with an option for 100 more. Today’s order confirms earlier reports from Bloomberg and Reuters that Airbus was set to beat its rival Boeing in securing the majority of the flydubai order.

ICYMI- flydubai tapped GE Aerospace for an order of 60 GEnx-1B engines during the show’s first day, which are set to power the airline’s first widebody order for 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners starting in 2023.

#3- Air Europa plans purchase of 40 A350-900s: Spanish airline Air Europa has inked an MoU with Airbus to secure up to 40 of the widebody A350-900 aircraft, according to a press release. The A350 acquisition is expected to accelerate the replacement of Air Europa’s existing long-haul fleet and raise net income on routes to key Latin American markets.

REMEMBER- Turkish Airlines is buying a minority stake in Air Europa for USD 300 mn, with the formal bid approved earlier this month. Most of the funding will come from a capital increase, with the stake size estimated between 25% and 27%.

BOEING ORDERS-

Gulf Air taps Boeing for three additional 787 Dreamliners: Bahrain’s Gulf Air increased its firm order with Boeing to 15 787 Dreamliners, with an option to add three more, according to a statement. The order builds on the carrier’s initial purchase agreement for 12 of the narrow-body models from Boeing, inked back in July.

MANUFACTURING-

Mubadala’s aerospace manufacturing unit Strata is eyeing manufacturing aircraft-engine parts for the first time as the sector faces a global shortage, acting CEO Sara Al Memari told The National. She said the Al Ain-based unit is pushing to close an agreement in 1Q 2026 but did not disclose the counterparty.

Strata could supply carbon-fiber materials for Boeing’s 777X, Al Memari said, adding the company is still negotiating which structures the materials will support. The Strata Syensqo Advanced Material plant in Al Ain, built with Belgium’s Syensqo, is in the qualification phase and targets production by end-1Q 2026. She said the facility is fully committed for the next 10 years but did not disclose volumes or contract value.

CARGO + MRO + SAF COLLABS-

#1- Mubadala’s aerospace engineering and leasing arm Sanad Group and Abu Dhabi Airports signed a 50-year land usufruct agreement that will allocate Sanad two plots of land totaling 70k sqm in Al Ain’s Nibras Aerospace Park, Al Etihad reports. The group will build a dedicated MRO center for Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan engines and a two-unit engine test complex.

#2- Emirates, Collins Aerospace amend MRO pact: Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates has expanded its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) agreement with aerospace solutions provider Collins Aerospace, according to a statement. The amendment will increase maintenance service availability for the landing gears of the carrier’s A380 jets. The parties inked the original MRO agreement at the Dubai Airshow in 2023.

#3- Qatar Airways also tapped Collins for fleet management: Qatari flag carrier Qatar Airways has entered into an agreement with Collins Aerospace to utilize its Ascentia analytics services for managing its fleet of Boeing jets, according to a statement.

#4- Radia taps Maximus Air to support future launch of mega freighter jet: US-based jet maker startup Radia has inked an MoU with Abu Dhabi-based cargo carrier Maximus Air to explore the future operations and deployment pathways for Radia’s WindRunner — a jumbo-sized cargo plane currently under development designed to transport cargo as big as football field-sized turbine blades, according to a press release. Under the agreement, Maximus Air will help “prepare for WindRunner’s commercial entry into service,” Radia’s CEO Mark Lundstrom said, with the pair looking to explore route development options and customer needs.

Uh, WindRunner? The WindRunner is 80 ft longer than the world’s largest military aircraft. The jet could be a game changer for wind energy, as it can carry blades with tips reaching 300 ft higher than the current average, allowing these blades to produce twice as much energy as current onshore turbines. The WindRunner has already secured its first customer and will deliver turbines to a 1GW project in Nevada once the plane is certified to fly. The company is reportedly eying 2029 for its first flight.

#5- Enoc + MENA Biofuels partner on SAF: Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) has signed an MoU with Mercantile & Maritime Group’s subsidiary MENA Biofuels to collaborate on the offtake, supply, and distribution of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), according to a statement from Dubai Media Office. The parties will work toward integrating SAF output from MENA Biofuels’ AED 2.2 bn biofuel processing facility under development at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone.

Dubai’s Al Maktoum Int’l Airport expansion attracts up to USD 15.5 bn in foreign + local investments

Emirates is earmarking USD 10-12 bn in investments for Al Maktoum International Airport (also known as DWC), Emirates Chairman Ahmed Saeed Al Maktoum said on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow. The airline remains confident that there will be “no issue” with regard to funding the airport’s transition by 2032.

DWC’s expansion also attracts USD 3.5 bn in foreign investment interest: DWC has received an expression of interest for up to USD 3.5 bn from the UK’s export credit agency UK Export Finance to facilitate the airport’s development, according to a statement. This could mark the development’s first influx of foreign direct investment.

A quick refresher: The design plan for developing a new USD 35 bn passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport was approved by Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2024. The expanded airport will be the world’s largest — five times the size of Dubai International Airport (DXB) — and designed to host over 260 mn passengers, handle 12 mn tons of cargo, and feature five parallel runways and 400 gates. All operations from DXB are planned to transfer to this new facility within 10 years.

AD Ports + CMA CGM to expand terminal at Khalifa Port in AED 420 mn plan

AD Ports, CMA CGM to expand joint terminal at Khalifa Port: Port operator AD Ports Group has inked an agreement with French shipping giant CMA CGM to expand their joint terminal at Khalifa Port, according to a statement. The agreement — which comes almost a year after the terminal launched operations — will see the pair funnel AED 420 mn (USD 115 mn) into the expansion project, with each contributing investments proportionate to their stakes in the terminal.

Expansions, expansions, and more expansions: The expansion will boost the terminal’s annual handling capacity by more than 50% to 2.7 mn TEUs by 2028 — which is set to boost the overall capacity across Khalifa Port by 9% to 10.5 mn TEUs per annum. The expansion will extend the quay wall length by 50% to 1.2k meter and the yard area by over 40% to 667k sqm. The project will also upgrade utilities and systems, including reefer racks to monitor refrigerated container storage.

BACKGROUND- AD Ports and CMA CGM operate the terminal under a joint venture, with CMA Terminals holding a 70% stake and AD Ports retaining 30%. The pair first announced the AED 3.1 bn terminal project back in 2021, initially committing some AED 570 mn, and inking a 35-year concession agreement for the terminal.

Oxagon taps AHG to develop SAR 600 mn facility for industrial gases production, distribution

AHG to produce industrial gases in Oxagon: Abdullah Hashim Industrial Gases & Equipment (AHG) will develop a SAR 600 mn industrial gases production and distribution facility in Neom’s industrial city Oxagon under a land lease agreement, according to a statement from Neom. The multi-phase facility will produce green oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and hydrogen to support renewable energy transition goals, the statement read.

The first phase of the project will set up basic industrial infrastructure, warehousing, and distribution capabilities. AHG is scheduled to break ground on the first phase in February, with operations slated to kick off in late 2026. Subsequent phases are expected in 2028.

The pitch: Demand for industrial gases in Oxagon is expected to grow as the city’s Industrial Quarter attracts more and more tenants. AHG’s facility will help localize production and distribution, which will reduce transportation costs for facilities in Oxagon and curb emissions from long-distance imports. AHG will also be poised to ramp up supplies of industrial gases to contractors working on Neom’s construction.

Oxagon is apparently going forward as planned, unaffected by the ongoing recalibration of Saudi’s gigaprojects, especially Neom, which has reportedly been undergoing a comprehensive review for months.

Egypt returns to global LNG market to fill a supply gap

Egypt is back in market for LNG imports: The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) is heading back to the global LNG market to plug a supply gap after months of cutting and delaying imports on the back of oversupply and weaker demand, Bloomberg reports, citing people it says have knowledge of the matter. EGPC has issued a tender to procure three liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments for delivery in mid-to-late November.

Reversing course: Last month, the Oil Ministry moved to reduce the number of agreed-upon LNG shipments scheduled for shipment in October — for the second month in a row — to six shipments from an initially expected 19, citing a combination of weak domestic demand and increased local output.

LNG supplies secured through next summer: The Madbouly government has secured strategic medium-term contracts for LNG through June 2026, and is continuing to request additional shipments through monthly tenders to keep prices competitive, a government source told EnterpriseAM.

We have quite the roster of suppliers: Over the past two years, the Oil Ministry has expanded its natural gas supplier roster to more than 70, helping stabilize prices. Over the summer, Egypt agreed to purchase up to 125 LNG cargoes annually from a long list of suppliers that includes Saudi Aramco, Trafigura Group, Vitol Group, Hartree Partners, BGN, Shell, and Azerbaijan’s Socar.

The shift comes following the freezeof a new Israeli gas agreement, which had been expected to boost pipeline inflows beginning last October. EGPC is now turning back to the global market to secure additional LNG shipments to meet local demand, a senior government official told EnterpriseAM. The source added that up to 20 LNG shipments are expected before year-end, with new cargoes being secured through tenders with approved suppliers.

Still, import needs are expected to decline next year. LNG import volumes are projected to fall around 30% in 2026, supported by higher domestic production and growing renewable energy capacity, according to the source. Our LNG requirements for next year are estimated at 120-125 shipments.

Boeing to consolidate portfolio in new e-commerce platform

Boeing Distribution taps into e-commerce: US plane manufacturer Boeing has launched a new e-commerce platform, which aims to unify Boeing Distribution’s wide portfolio of products and services into a single streamlined digital website, according to a press release. The e-commerce platform will aim to centralize parts that are essential for aviation customers — offering a single access point that merges previously separate inventories and services. It is also set to support real-time inventory and order management to facilitate supply chain workflows, the statement adds.

Pratt & Whitney makes good on its 2025 engine delivery target to Airbus: France-based airplane maker Airbus has taken in all engines by manufacturer Pratt & Whitney scheduled for delivery in 2025, Bloomberg reported on Sunday, citing Rick Deurloo, Pratt & Whitney’s president of commercial engines.

Why it matters? Pratt & Whitney engines power around half of the new orders of the world’s most popular jet, the narrow-body A320, with the rest usually fulfilled by CFM’s LEAP-1A engines. During the first 9M of 2025, the European jet maker delivered 507 commercial aircraft, out of which 392 were from the A320 family — Airbus’s and the world’s most popular aircraft.

Calendar

NOVEMBER

17-21 November (Monday-Friday): Dubai Airshow, Dubai, UAE.

DECEMBER

6 December (Saturday): International Procurement Supply Chain Conference, Cairo, Egypt.

9-10 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Rail Industry Summit, El Jadida, Morocco.

16-17 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Saudi Airport Exhibition, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

JANUARY 2026

19-23 January (Monday-Friday): World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Davos, Switzerland.

27-28 January (Tuesday-Wednesday): SkyMove Air Cargo MENA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

27-28 January (Tuesday-Wednesday): Middle East ProcureTech Summit, Dubai, UAE.

FEBRUARY 2026

4-5 February (Wednesday-Thursday): Breakbulk Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

4-5 February (Wednesday-Thursday): MRO Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

15-17 February (Sunday-Tuesday): World Advanced Manufacturing Logistics Summit and Expo, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

25-27 February (Wednesday-Friday): Air Cargo Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.

MARCH 2026

10-12 March (Tuesday-Thursday): World Cargo Symposium, Lima, Peru.

Sections

About

Privacy & Support

Get EnterpriseAM daily