Middle East aviation market

Monthly Middle Eastern airline data updates

July 2026

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36.3m seats
▼ −6.1% YoY vs 38.6m in
Top airline
Emirates −10.2% YoY
2.98m
Top airport
Dubai · DXB −17.4% YoY
4.35m
Top country
Saudi Arabia +0.7% YoY
7.42m

How much airline capacity does the Middle East have in 2026?

Capacity across the Middle East reduced by 6.1% in July 26 vs last year, to 36.3m seats.

International capacity, which represents 86.8% of the market, reduced by 7.3% vs July 25 to 31.5m seats, 2.5m fewer seats.

Domestic capacity represents 13.2% of the market and grew by 2.5% vs July 25.

Domestic & international · seats (millions)

Monthly scheduled capacity: July 2025 vs July 2026

Domestic 2026 Domestic 2025 International 2026 International 2025
Source: OAG · July 2026 scheduled capacity

Are low cost carriers growing in the Middle East?

Low Cost Carriers represent 28% of the market and reduced capacity by 5% vs last year.

Mainline carriers account for the remaining 72% of the capacity in the market and fell by 6.5% vs last year to 26.1m seats.

Market share & year-on-year change

Mainline vs low-cost

Source: OAG · July 2026 scheduled capacity

Which Middle Eastern country has the most airline seats?

Saudi Arabia is the largest market in the region this month, with 7.4m seats, an increase of 0.7% in capacity vs last year.

Capacity in United Arab Emirates remains 12.8% below July 25 levels (1m fewer seats).

Amongst the Top 10 countries, capacity only grew in Israel, increasing by 31.2% to 1.4m seats in July 26.

Capacity dropped by 29.5% in Iran (373,000 fewer seats) this month and by 27.3% in Kuwait (277,500 fewer seats) vs July 25.

Departing seats · July 2026

Top 10 countries by seat capacity

Saudi Arabia
7.4m
+0.7%
UAE
6.9m
−12.8%
Qatar
2.6m
−8.6%
Israel
1.4m
+31.2%
Iran
0.9m
−29.5%
Oman
0.9m
−6.9%
Kuwait
0.7m
−27.3%
Jordan
0.7m
+11.3%
Bahrain
0.5m
−8.5%
Lebanon
0.4m
−9.5%
Positive YoYNegative YoYCell size = seats
Source: OAG · July 2026 scheduled capacity

Top country gains in July 2026: Three countries in the top 10 grew capacity. Saudi Arabia, the largest market, grew 0.7% (+54,815 seats) to 7.4m seats. Israel grew most strongly at +31.2% (+329,030 seats) to 1.4m seats. Jordan grew 11.3% (+67,820 seats) to 0.67m seats.

Top country losses in July 2026: Iran saw the sharpest decline, down 29.5% (372,994 fewer seats). Kuwait fell 27.3% (277,493 fewer seats). UAE fell 12.8% (1,009,871 fewer seats) and Lebanon fell 9.5%, Qatar 8.6%, Bahrain 8.5%, and Oman 6.9%.

Which is the biggest airline in the Middle East?

Emirates remains the largest airline in the region, with the network carrier handling 3m seats, a reduction of 10% vs July 25.

Within the Top 10 carriers in the Middle East, Royal Jordanian, Etihad Airways and flyadeal were the only airlines to increase capacity by 34%, 12% and 11% respectively vs last year.

Departing seats · July 2026

Seat capacity by airline

Source: OAG · July 2026 scheduled capacity

Amongst the Top 10 carriers in the Middle East, Royal Jordanian, Etihad Airways and flyadeal were the only airlines to record capacity growth this month, increasing by 34%, 12% and 11% respectively vs last year.

Top 10 Middle East airlines by seats — July 2026

No Airline Seats (Jul 2026) YoY
1.Emirates2.98m−10.2%
2.Saudi Arabian Airlines2.82m−8.8%
3.Qatar Airways2.63m−4.5%
4.FLYNAS1.41m+3.3%
5.Etihad Airways1.40m+11.6%
6.flyadeal1.25m+11.0%
7.Flydubai1.11m−17.5%
8.Air Arabia0.85m−11.1%
9.Gulf Air0.56m+1.5%
10.Royal Jordanian0.50m+33.9%

What is the busiest airport in the Middle East?

Dubai (DXB) remains the region's largest airport, handling 4.3m seats. This represents a reduction of 17.4%, 915,300 fewer seats than in July 25.

Doha and Jeddah are a close second and third busiest with 2.6m and 2.5m seats respectively, a reduction in capacity of 8.6% and 0.2% vs last year.

Volume wise, Kuwait had the second largest reduction in capacity, with 277,500 fewer seats, a 27.3% reduction in capacity vs July 25.

Tel Aviv was the only airport in the region to see any significant capacity growth in July 26, up 28.6% which is 293,900 more seats than last July.

No Code Airport Seats YoY
1.DXBDubai International4.35m−17.4%
2.DOHDoha2.58m−8.6%
3.JEDJeddah2.54m−0.2%
4.RUHRiyadh2.36m+0.3%
5.AUHZayed International1.65m−0.1%
6.TLVTel Aviv Ben Gurion1.32m+28.6%
7.SHJSharjah0.83m−6.0%
8.DMMDammam0.76m−3.2%
9.KWIKuwait0.74m−27.3%
10.MCTMuscat0.73m−7.6%
YoY change vs seats
Airport capacity and year-on-year growth
0.73m → 4.35m seats + YoY − YoY

Source: OAG · hover chart or click a table row to cross-highlight

Volume wise, Kuwait had the second largest reduction in capacity, with 277,500 fewer seats, a 27.3% reduction in capacity vs July 25.

Tel Aviv was the only airport in the region to see any significant capacity growth in July 26, up 28.6% which is 293,900 more seats than last July.

Middle East aviation: frequently asked questions

Emirates is the largest airline in the Middle East in July 2026 with 2.98 million seats, a decrease of 10.2% vs July 2025. Saudi Arabian Airlines is second with 2.82 million seats (−8.8%) and Qatar Airways third with 2.63 million (−4.5%). Royal Jordanian is the fastest-growing carrier in the top 10 at +33.9% to 0.50 million seats, followed by Etihad Airways at +11.6% and flyadeal at +11.0%. Source: OAG scheduled capacity data, July 2026.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the busiest airport in the Middle East in July 2026 with 4.35 million seats, down 17.4% vs July 2025. Doha is second with 2.58 million seats and Jeddah third with 2.54 million. Tel Aviv recorded the strongest capacity growth in the top 10 at +28.6%, adding 293,900 seats vs last July. Riyadh also grew marginally at +0.3%. Source: OAG scheduled capacity data, July 2026.
Saudi Arabia is the largest capacity market in the Middle East in July 2026 with 7.42 million seats, up 0.7% vs July 2025. The United Arab Emirates is second with 6.89 million seats (−12.8%). Three countries grew capacity: Saudi Arabia (+0.7%), Israel (+31.2% to 1.39 million seats), and Jordan (+11.3%). Iran declined most sharply at −29.5%. Source: OAG scheduled capacity data, July 2026.
Total Middle East seat capacity in July 2026 is 36.3 million seats, down 6.1% vs July 2025. International capacity accounts for 86.8% of the total at 31.5 million seats (−7.3%), with domestic at 4.8 million seats (+2.5%). Low cost carriers hold 28% of the market with 10.1 million seats (−5.0%), while mainline carriers account for 72% at 26.1 million seats (−6.5%). Source: OAG scheduled capacity data, July 2026.
Royal Jordanian is the fastest-growing carrier in the top 10 Middle East airlines in July 2026, up 33.9% to 0.50 million seats. Etihad Airways grew +11.6% to 1.40 million seats, and flyadeal grew +11.0% to 1.25 million seats. Gulf Air (+1.5%) and FLYNAS (+3.3%) also grew. These five were the only carriers in the top 10 to record capacity growth. Source: OAG scheduled capacity data, July 2026.

Data is sourced from OAG's Schedules Analyser.

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