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Transport

Aviation and transport news from the Middle East. All the important stories, exclusive interviews, plus authoritative opinion and analysis

Abu Dhabi's vertiports will accelerate cargo and passenger movement and improve logistics delivery

Three vertiport locations identified in Abu Dhabi

Al Bateen, Yas Island and Khalifa Port have been identified as locations for developing vertiports in Abu Dhabi after 14 potential sites were accessed. A detailed feasibility study has been submitted to the Abu Dhabi government following discussions with more than 34 government entities, according to a joint statement from LODD, an Abu Dhabi-based AI-powered drone […]

DP World's 300,000 sq m facility in the Suez Canal Economic Zone is set for completion in June 2025

DP World nears opening of $80m logistics hub in Egypt

Global ports operator and logistics company DP World has completed nearly two-thirds of the work on the first phase of a $80 million logistics hub in Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone. The 300,000 sq m complex is due for completion in June. It aims to reduce logistics costs and strengthen connections between Egypt, the Middle East […]

An Emirates plan fills up with sustainable aviation fuel before a test flight. Fuel compliance costs could reduce the airline's margins

Arab airlines criticise EU over cost of green fuel policy

Arab airlines have criticised the European Union for its policy on cleaner aviation fuels, which they say could drive their costs up by more than a quarter over the next eight years. The Arab Air Carriers’ Organisation (AACO) says the EU’s aviation sustainability policies involve inconsistencies that unfairly penalise non-European airlines and drive up costs […]

Emirates Airline A380s being assembled at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France

Airbus expects Middle East aircraft fleet to double by 2043

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus expects fleet size in the Middle East to more than double in the 18-year period to 2043, the world’s third-fastest rate after China and the Asia-Pacific region. In its latest Global Market and Services Forecast, Airbus said Middle East demand, led by airlines in the Gulf, is estimated at 3,740 new aircraft […]

Mays, the Omani carmaker, will soon deliver up to 500 of its new electric car

First batch of Omani built EVs ready for distribution

Omani electric vehicle manufacturer Mays Motors has started delivery of its first cars to local companies. The Mays Alive car is said to have a range of 610 kilometres on a single charge, which is longer than most EVs, and retails at OMR11,000 ($28,500) for companies and OMR12,000 ($31,000) for individuals.  The car features AI […]

Morocco plans to invest $9.5 billion in projects to expand its rail network in the next five years

Work accelerates on Morocco’s high-speed rail

Morocco has awarded contracts worth €430 million ($444 million) to expand the country’s high-speed rail network ahead of the 2030 Fifa World Cup, according to the successful French bidder. The Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF), the national rail operator, awarded three contracts to two subsidiaries of French civil engineering company Colas to extend […]

Hafeet rail

Contracts awarded for $3bn Oman-UAE rail network

Hafeet Rail, formerly Oman and Etihad Rail Company, has awarded construction contracts for the $3 billion railway network between Oman and the UAE. Indian conglomerate Larson & Toubro and Chinese state-owned Power China will develop railway logistics facilities in Al Buraimi on the border with the UAE, and Sohar, a port in the north of the sultanate, the […]

Saudi Arabia and the UAE intend to build thousands more EV charging stations

Private sector vital to meet Gulf EV charging station demand

Demand for charging stations for electric vehicles in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states is expected to surge this year and beyond as regional governments set ambitious greenhouse gas emission targets and sales of EVs pick up. Saudi Arabia, for instance, has fewer than 300 charging stations, but is committed to building 5,000 […]

Traffic on Khalifa Bin Zayed the First street in Abu Dhabi. The city ranked 473rd in congestion levels worldwide, significantly lower than Dubai, which ranked 154th

Abu Dhabi seeks consultants for transport master plan

The Abu Dhabi government has invited consultancy companies to apply to update its transport master plan, as it aims to modernise the emirate’s transport network. The updated capital surface transport master plan will replace previous transport strategies and will integrate new infrastructure, technology and regulatory measures to enhance connectivity and support economic diversification, according to […]

Spain Egypt Cairo metro study Typsa

Egypt and Spain sign Cairo metro extension study

Egypt and Spain have signed a development financing agreement worth over $1 million for a preliminary feasibility study on extending Cairo Metro’s Line 1.  The project involves extending the oldest of the city’s three metro lines from New Marg to Shibin El Qanater, north of Cairo. The 19km extension features 14 stations. Spanish company Typsa […]

New Airbus jets underpin Jazeera Airways CEO Barathan Pasupathi's growth plans for the airline

Jazeera Airways to cut costs and double passengers by 2029

Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways plans to add more seats to its aircraft, expand its fleet and cut costs as part of a new five-year strategy to almost double the number of passengers in 2029. Adding seats this year will raise the average number per aircraft to 180 by the third quarter, the airline CEO Barathan Pasupathi […]

Marrakesh Menara airport. Morocco expects airport passenger traffic to reach 60 million by 2030

Morocco aims to double airport capacity by 2030

Morocco expects airport traffic to reach 60 million passengers by 2030 and 90 million by 2035, according to a government official. The growth from 32 million passengers in 2024 is expected as a result of the 2030 Fifa World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal, Morocco World News reported, quoting transport and […]

Traffic in Dubai: most Middle East insurance premiums go towards motoring Video length: 04:44

EVs and air taxis will shake up Mena insurance industry

Motor insurance represents more than 50 percent of premiums in developing insurance markets such as the Middle East, says Vinay Surana, managing director for the region at Allianz Partners. The rapid development and introduction of electric vehicles, self-driving vehicles and air taxis will present new risks and demand new approaches and different ways of thinking, […]

Jazeera Airways chairman Marwan Boodai said the airline will continue with its digital transformation in 2025

Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways cuts losses as revenues rise

Low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways, which trades on the Kuwaiti stock exchange, narrowed its fourth-quarter 2024 loss on rising revenue and operational efficiency. Net loss narrowed by 42 percent year on year to KD4.2 million ($13.6 million) in the final quarter, as operating revenue climbed 15 percent year on year to KD45.1 million. Passenger numbers grew 9 […]

Riyadh Air is evaluating the Airbus 350-1000 and Boeing 777X models

Riyadh Air in talks to buy 50 more widebody aircraft

Saudi Arabian airline Riyadh Air, backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is in talks with US and European planemakers for 50 additional widebody aircraft, according to a news report. The airline is evaluating the Airbus 350-1000 and Boeing 777X models, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed informed sources. The carrier is eager to secure delivery slots, […]

The Suez Canal is ready to accommodate major shipping lines at full capacity, said Suez Canal Authority chairman Osama Rabie

Egypt urges return of Suez Canal traffic after Gaza ceasefire

Egypt has held talks with 23 maritime companies, encouraging them to resume transits through the Suez Canal following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. There are many positive indicators for the Red Sea region as stability returns, said Osama Rabie, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA). He said the SCA has been flexible […]

A VLCC in Rotterdam. Bahri expects three VLCCs and one dry bulk carrier, delivered last year, to be operational in the first quarter of 2025

Bahri 2024 profit rises to $533m as revenue jumps 8%

Net profit at the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) surpassed the SAR2 billion ($533.2 million) mark for the first time in its history as revenue increased as a result of its fleet expansion. Net profit for 2024 reached SAR2.2 billion, rising 34 percent year on year. Revenues hit a record high of SAR9.5 […]

DXB connects 272 destinations across 107 countries through 106 international airlines

DXB passenger traffic hit record high of 92m in 2024  

Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world’s busiest international airport, received 92.3 million passengers in 2024, the highest annual traffic to date. The 6 percent year on year rise was driven by sustained growth throughout the year, capped by an exceptionally busy last quarter, Dubai Media Office said in a statement. December emerged as the busiest […]

middle east air cargo

Red Sea attacks and ecommerce boost Middle East air cargo

Strong ecommerce growth and attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have resulted in a 13 percent rise in air cargo shipments in the Middle East. The International Air Transport Association said global air cargo demand increased by 11.3 percent last year.  The Middle East overperformed with 14 percent growth, while European carriers reported 11.2 percent growth and […]

A fisherman at Port Botany in Sydney, where rail capacity is set to double

DP World and NSW Ports to invest in rail expansion

Dubai’s DP World and Australia’s NSW Ports have announced plans to invest $249 million in doubling the rail capacity at Port Botany in Sydney. The project will extend the rail terminal at the port with the addition of five new rail sidings to accommodate 600-metre-long regional trains.  Expected to start in June, it will take […]

International Airport in Kuala Lumpur. The GDA consortium plans to upgrade infrastructure and improve airline connectivity to support growth

Adia-backed bidders close in on Malaysia Airports buy-out

A $4.2 billion bid to buy out Malaysia Airports backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia), the emirate’s biggest sovereign wealth fund, has moved a step closer. Shareholder acceptance of the bid is above 95 percent. The offer is by a consortium called the Gateway Development Alliance (GDA), which is led by Malaysia’s sovereign […]