| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 496.43 Million |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 703.45 Million |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 7.22 % |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training & Simulation Market Analysis
The Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market size is estimated at USD 496.43 million in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 703.45 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 7.22% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
Flight simulators are pivotal in pilot training, providing a realistic environment to refine flying skills. They accurately replicate real-world scenarios, encompassing diverse weather conditions and emergencies. With the Middle East witnessing a surge in air traffic and a heightened demand for skilled pilots, the need for aviation simulators in the region is on the rise. Airlines and flight training academies are increasingly adopting simulators due to their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and crucial role in pilot safety.
Furthermore, the region's increasing passenger traffic is leading to a rise in the procurement of next-generation aircraft. The substantial order books of industry giants such as Boeing and Airbus further emphasize this trend. As airlines expand their fleets, the demand for pilots with commercial certifications escalates, further highlighting the importance of advanced flight simulators.
Currently, the Middle East faces a shortage of local pilots, prompting regional airlines to focus on developing domestic talent. This approach helps airlines reduce costs associated with hiring foreign pilots and aligns with the government's aim of creating local job opportunities. These proactive steps by airlines are set to boost the demand for pilot training in the coming years.
Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training & Simulation Market Trends
The Full Flight Simulator (FFS) Segment is Projected to Occupy the Largest Market During the Forecast Period
A full-flight simulator (FFS) precisely mirrors the flight characteristics of a specific aircraft, replicating its movements, acoustics, and even G-forces. Unlike its Flight Training Device (FTD) counterpart, an FFS boasts superior technology, featuring advanced motion, visuals, communication, and air traffic capabilities. For instance, an FFS can simulate air friction on the fuselage, provide pilots with spatial orientation exercises using a 180-degree view of airport surroundings, and assist in planning precise approach procedures. While FFS were previously graded from A to D, recent years have ushered in a global standard with seven levels, with the former Level D now designated as Type 7. This Level D/Type 7 standard is pivotal for initial and recurrent commercial air transport training.
Given the pilot shortage, aviation training institutes in the region are increasingly adopting FFS simulators. Additionally, as new commercial aircraft families enter the market, FFS Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are stepping up, integrating advanced features like virtual reality (VR). In a notable development, in December 2023, CAE and Riyadh Air sealed a deal. Preparing for its 2025 launch, Riyadh Air is procuring two state-of-the-art B787 CAE7000XR FFS from CAE, alongside other simulator models. Both companies are collaborating with Prince Sultan University to introduce these simulators at the newly established College of Aviation and Space in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2024. These initiatives are poised to bolster the demand for FFS during the forecast period.
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The United Arab Emirates to Occupy the Largest Market Share During the Forecast Period
The aviation sector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is witnessing a surge, fueled by the demand for pilots from its major airlines, Emirates and Etihad Airways, and a steady uptick in air passenger traffic. In 2023, UAE airports recorded approximately 38 million arrivals and 37.805 million departures and hosted 58.328 million transit passengers.
As UAE airlines expand their fleets to meet this demand, the necessity for skilled pilots becomes increasingly urgent. For instance, Emirates, as of July 2024, has a substantial 310 aircraft orders in the pipeline. While their Airbus A350s are set to begin operations later in 2024, the Boeing 777s are scheduled for a debut in 2025. Airlines are making significant investments in pilot training to ensure the seamless integration of these new aircraft.
For instance, in February 2023, Emirates announced its plans to construct a state-of-the-art training facility, costing USD 135 million. Spanning 63,318 sq ft, this facility will feature six full-flight simulator bays specifically designed for their upcoming A350 and B777X aircraft. The facility is slated to open in March 2024. Following this trend, in November 2023, Flydubai (FZ) from Dubai revealed its plans for a USD 56 million full-flight simulator and training facility, set to launch in early 2025. This move not only allows FlyDubai to take control of its training needs but also streamlines retraining schedules, ultimately reducing training costs. The facility will primarily cater to FlyDubai's pilots and cabin crew, highlighting the UAE's proactive approach to fortifying its aviation sector in the coming years.
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Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training & Simulation Industry Overview
The Middle East civil aviation flight training and simulation market is fragmented, with many local training schools in the region. Some prominent players in the market are CAE Inc., Etihad Aviation Training Academy, Turkish Airlines Flight Training, Emirates Flight Training Academy, and Egyptair Training Academy.
The market players are gradually increasing their market share by introducing new simulators for initial flight training and procuring new piston-engine aircraft for practical training, which may help them increase their overall training capacities. Such developments are expected to support the growth of regional companies.
Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training & Simulation Market Leaders
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Turkish Airlines Flight Academy
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EGYPTAIR TRAINING ACADEMY
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Etihad Aviation Training
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CAE Inc.
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Emirates Flight Training Academy (Emirates Group)
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training & Simulation Market News
- June 2024: Havelsan, a prominent manufacturer of flight simulators, supplied the IFTC in Turkey with an Airbus A320 Full Flight Simulator.
- January 2024: Saudia Academy enhanced its training facilities with two state-of-the-art Airbus A320neo flight simulators from L3 Harris Technologies, bringing their A320neo simulator count to five.
Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training & Simulation Industry Segmentation
The civil aviation flight training and simulation market focuses on training pilots for civil aviation aircraft. The study highlights flight simulators, which replicate pilot training environments. It covers pilot training for commercial aviation, specifically for fixed-wing aircraft, excluding rotorcraft. The market estimates are centered on the service segment of the commercial aviation industry, encompassing revenues from simulator training (both type rating and recurrent) and ground and flight school training. Military training revenues are not factored into these estimates.
The market is segmented on training type and geography. By training type, the market is segmented into flight school/ground school and simulation training. The simulation type is further segmented into full flight simulator (FFS), fixed training devices (FTD), and other simulator types ( Advanced Aviation Training Devices (AATD) / Basic Aviation Training Devices (BATD). The report also offers the market size and forecasts for six countries across the region. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done based on value (USD).
| By Training Type | Flight School/Ground School | ||
| Simulation Training | Full Flight Simulator (FFS) | ||
| Fixed Training Devices (FTD) | |||
| Other Simulator Types | |||
| By Geography | United Arab Emirates | ||
| Saudi Arabia | |||
| Qatar | |||
| Bahrain | |||
| Oman | |||
| Kuwait | |||
| Rest of Middle East | |||
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Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market Research Faqs
How big is the Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market?
The Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market size is expected to reach USD 496.43 million in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 7.22% to reach USD 703.45 million by 2030.
What is the current Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market size?
In 2025, the Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market size is expected to reach USD 496.43 million.
Who are the key players in Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market?
Turkish Airlines Flight Academy, EGYPTAIR TRAINING ACADEMY, Etihad Aviation Training, CAE Inc. and Emirates Flight Training Academy (Emirates Group) are the major companies operating in the Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market.
What years does this Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market size was estimated at USD 460.59 million. The report covers the Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
