Following the highly successful comeback of the Paris Air Show in 2023, a team from Sigma Software attended another major industry event to share their aviation industry expertise and stay on top of emerging trends. Once again, the Dubai Air Show exceeded their expectations. In this article programme manager Artem Shevchenko explains why.

Let’s start with some impressive stats. Dubai Air Show is the largest aerospace and defence event in the Middle East.

The 18th edition featured more than 1,400 exhibitors from over 95 countries, 350-plus international leading speakers, 80-plus start-ups, and 20 country pavilions, along with 190 aircraft on static and flying display, and 135,000 visitors attending over the five days. That attendance was a 30% increase compared to 2021.

The organisers revealed post-event that over $101bn worth of deals had been announced throughout the week, including orders of more than 1300 new aircraft.

An interesting highlight was the United Arab Emirates had a heavy industry representation of their domestic companies with their manufacturing capabilities and products on display.

Witnessing the convergence of innovation, sustainability, and technology in the aviation industry was inspiring. Here are the most memorable highlights from our team.

Sustainable Aviation 

We are observing notable progress within the industry as it shifts towards sustainability, emphasizing eco-friendly aircraft, biofuels, and innovative technologies aimed at diminishing the carbon footprint of air travel.

The UAE’s president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared 2023 as the ‘’Year of Sustainability’’ and the nation also hosted COP28 this year, demonstrating the commitment to sustainability.

In Dubai, industry experts came together to discuss steps for creating a more sustainable aerospace ecosystem during the two-day conference covering some of the most pressing sustainable challenges and opportunities.

The biggest industry players like Boeing and Airbus all showed their commitment to sustainability.

Boeing highlighted its commitment and actions towards a more sustainable aerospace future and support of the aviation industry’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

During the conference, the company’s top representatives discussed Boeing’s Cascade Climate Impact Model, a data-modelling tool that provides actionable insights toward decarbonisation.

Meanwhile, Airbus is placing its bets on hydrogen as a game-changing technology for deep decarbonisation in aviation. The company aims to introduce the first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft into service by 2035.

Urban Air Mobility

The visitors of Dubai Air Show 2023 had the chance to explore cutting-edge developments in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, paving the way for a new era of urban transportation.

The exhibition had the dedicated Advanced Aerial Mobility Pavilion which showcased the latest eVTOL, drone, and Unmanned Aerial Systems technology.

Archer, worth over $1 billion, had the biggest presence in the pavilion, with a full-scale model of its Midnight eVTOL.

Eve Air Mobility, an Embraer subsidiary, showcased a cabin model in Dubai. Also, Eve Air Mobility and Hunch Mobility have announced that the two companies are working together to bring the first electric commuter flights to Bangalore, India.

Lilium, a German eVTOL company, also had its cabin on display. It also showcased a small-scale model of its aircraft, called the Lilium Jet.

Wisk and Joby Aviation skipped the Dubai air show, but there were several smaller start-ups showing off futuristic models, including Bellwether Industries’ Oryx. The French startup Ascendance, which is working on a hybrid VTOL, also had a presence.

Prague-based eVTOL manufacturer Zuri showcased their design for a five-seater eVTOL through augmented reality.

Zuri’s display, powered by a pair of AR glasses, was the only AR presentation at the show and allowed viewers to experience their new design with an unprecedented level of immersion.

Advanced Materials, Manufacturing, AI, and Automation 

Visitors to the show were delving into breakthroughs in materials science and manufacturing techniques that enhance the efficiency and performance of aircraft. These innovations, from lightweight composites to 3D printing, are reshaping the aerospace industry.

Airlines and manufacturers displayed new concepts and technology at the show. For instance, on day two of the show, Lufthansa Technik debuted an Airbus A220 SkyRetreat concept which would allow passengers on private jets to have views from the cockpit.

An unexpected winner of this year’s air show was Boom Supersonic, a startup that is trying to bring supersonic travel back to the masses.

The company struggled with challenges, as it’s not only designing new aircraft, but also developing its own engine.

Before the show the company got a significant boost. Saudi Arabia, a major player in this region, has decided to make a major investment in the company.

We lack precise details regarding the deal, but according to Crunchbase, it amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars. Boom still has a long road ahead of them, but it seems that their odds of success just went up.

The Dubai Air Show 2023 also showed the industry’s understanding of the pivotal role of AI in optimising operations, enhancing safety, and improving the overall passenger experience, witnessing the rise of automation in air traffic management and onboard systems, ushering in a new era of intelligent aviation.

For instance, BlackSky showcased dynamic monitoring capabilities that take advantage of the latest advances in AI. AI is embedded across the entire architecture of BlackSky’s Spectra – a commercial platform that provides dynamic full-spectrum monitoring from space.

Space Exploration 

Space innovation emerged for its second year as a major track for the Dubai Airshow agenda, as a whopping $546 billion industry, growing 8% just in the past year.

The Aerospace 2050 space track case studies provided a fascinating view into how space companies are continually innovating solutions for their most demanding customers.

Participants included the UAE Space Agency, TII, Intelsat, ICEYE, Roketsun, and more. There was also a two-day space conference program showcasing international and regional key speakers discussing the most pressing industry topics.

Yet another highlight of Dubai Air Show 2023 was the demonstration of cutting-edge defence technologies, from next-gen fighter jets and un-crewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) to state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions.

As geopolitical landscapes evolve, the defence sector leverages innovation for global security.

Despite the controversy of participation of some countries involved in the ongoing conflicts, the show was an important step for industry as many countries started to rethink their defence capabilities for new and emerging threats.

Sigma Software is among world’s Top 100 outsourcing companies and has 12 years of expertise in delivering software for aviation companies, including SAS, IATA, and many more. We help airlines, airports, and aviation software companies take advantage of modern technologies and tools to streamline operational workflows and achieve the high level of productivity & precision in business operations. As an aviation consulting company, we not only develop efficient business solutions, but ensure their compliance to IATA regulations and standards (SSIM, NDC, PADIS, etc.), WCAG, GDPR, ISO, and more.