• Middle East commercial fleet will double to more than 3,500 airplanes to support air traffic growth
• Widebody jets comprise almost half of the nearly 3,000 projected new airplane deliveries for fleet growth and renewal
• Fleet growth will drive $475 billion investment in commercial aviation services
DOHA, Qatar, November 3, 2026 — Passenger traffic in the Middle East is forecast to grow 4.3% annually despite current industry headwinds, supporting trade, tourism and commerce across the region over the next 20 years, according to Boeing’s [NYSE: BA] 2026 Commercial Market Outlook. The region’s airplane fleet is projected to double to more than 3,500 airplanes to support twice the travel demand, underscoring the aviation sector’s continued resilience.
Airlines in the Middle East are expected to take delivery of nearly 3,000 new airplanes over the next two decades to support fleet expansion and replace older airplanes. Around 85% of the Middle East fleet in 2045 will consist of modern, fuel-efficient airplanes delivered over the next 20 years. (....)