Private jets are big business. The most recent estimates place the worldwide private jet market at USD 39.84 billion this year, a significant increase from USD 25.87 billion in 2021. Some of the major players within that market include the US (with an outsized share) as well as Brazil, Mexico, Canada, and Germany. Meanwhile, the GCC region has quietly begun to make a significant impact.
According to Mordor Intelligence, the GCC private jet market is currently worth USD 0.73 billion, which is projected to grow to USD 1.26 billion by 2030. The UAE has the highest demand for private jets, followed closely by Saudi Arabia. Other key players include Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. It’s predicted by many that the GCC will soon have an increasing presence in this market.
People are thinking differently about private aviation these days as well. Not long ago, it was solely seen as a luxury lifestyle symbol, but it’s increasingly becoming a practical business tool, particularly in fast-moving economies like the UAE.
So, this article looks at some of the key global trends within private aviation and examines the factors driving demand, investment, and innovation across the GCC region.
The private jet as an operational tool
As previously mentioned, the US leads the market. This is true both in terms of fleet size and corresponding infrastructure. Perhaps the most interesting developments within the sector are emerging outside the typical mature markets. The Middle East, and especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is seeing a true acceleration in private jet use. And while the headlines may suggest this is all about a luxurious lifestyle, in many cases, private aviation is used as an operational asset for businesses and governments, as well as HNWIs.
There is another significant change accompanying the transition from luxury to strategic tool. It’s no longer necessary to own an aircraft. Across the globe, new models are emerging, including charter models, jet cards, fractional ownership, and on-demand platforms. These are all opening up the skies to a much wider range of both business and private users.
The GCC private jet market – the UAE at the forefront
It’s also worth noting that our region isn’t just a consumer of private aviation, as it had been in the past. It has evolved to become a more significant driver of market innovation and investment. In the UAE, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are renowned for their world-class commercial aviation infrastructure, but they are also emerging as notable hubs for private aviation. Al Maktoum International (DWC) and Al Bateen Executive Airport are two of the busiest private jet terminals in the region.
Several factors are driving the UAE’s rapid growth in this sector. As anyone who works or lives in the UAE knows, the country is ideally positioned for international business travel, situated between three continents. The country’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has also ensured that the process of registering and leasing aircraft is streamlined. Then, of course, there are the record number of HNWIs – this year, the UAE is expected to attract 9,800 millionaires, which would put it at No.1 on the list of global high-net-worth migration.
The culture shift, where private aviation has transitioned from luxury to logistics, is also significant, given the UAE’s position of easy access to numerous countries and continents. So, executives who have a last-minute meeting in Riyadh or need to visit a site in India are seeing private aviation as a tool for efficiency and security. Business in the GCC moves fast, and private jets meet that demand for private individuals, corporates, and state-linked enterprises.
The rise of Saudi Arabia in regional private aviation
Vision 2030 is transforming numerous areas of Saudi Arabia, not least the aviation sector. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) is investing heavily in airport infrastructure and executive terminals, and the KSA is seeing a rise in aircraft ownership and private charters. The aviation authority’s reforms, including one-way international flights and foreign planes on domestic routes, boosted private flight volume by 24% in 2024.
With mega projects (including NEOM and the Red Sea Project) underway, private aviation also adds a logistical aspect for business travel, offering not just speed and efficiency but also direct access to remote or undeveloped areas.
Why private aviation is soaring in the Gulf
Several factors contribute to the rise in the private aviation sector. Let’s look at these in more detail:
- Diversification: Many GCC countries are making the move from oil-dependent economies to more diversified models. With an ever-growing focus on sectors such as logistics, finance, tourism, and tech, the corresponding need for greater executive mobility has increased.
- Mobility: People are more mobile than ever before, particularly investors, family offices, and founders, who collectively comprise the new GCC economies. Private aviation makes it easier than ever to move around the region, and the world, when working cross-border operations.
- New models: It’s not as though ownership of private jets has gone out of fashion – it hasn’t. However, UHNWIs and family offices are increasingly exploring access-based models, such as jet card programs, fractional ownership, and digital charter platforms. This provides the user with a more flexible level of access, but without the burden of full ownership.
- Regulations and infrastructure: The UAE and Saudi Arabia, in particular, have established robust regulatory frameworks and the necessary infrastructure to facilitate the day-to-day operation of private aircraft, making it easier and more streamlined. So, whether that’s great clarity on regulations, easier aircraft registry, and specific executive terminals in airports, it’s helping attract global operators and charter companies into the region.
Opportunities for investors
Private aviation growth in the Gulf has become a broader investment ecosystem that offers opportunities beyond the purchase of aircraft. As demand rises, so does the need for a variety of other services, including fleet financing and leasing solutions.
Maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services currently remain largely outsourced, revealing a gap that local providers can fill. Charter technology is also emerging, with app-based booking and AI-powered flight optimisation still in early stages across the GCC, which is a fresh angle for tech investors.
Finally, workforce development is crucial with the region facing a shortage of trained pilots, engineers, and aviation staff. Investments in academies and vocational programs can help meet this need while offering long-term returns.
Ready for take-off
As global private aviation continues to expand, the GCC is becoming one of its most flexible markets. The shift from luxury to logistics and from ownership to access has transformed the landscape. Today, private aviation is less about isolated flights and more about integrated business travel strategies.
For everyone involved or looking to enter, whether investors, operators, or entrepreneurs, the message is clear: private aviation is no longer a niche. It’s becoming a business essential.
