dnata Commits AED 175 Million to 340+ New Ground Support Equipment Assets in the UAE
Why It MattersGround handlers are spending ahead of traffic because equipment lead times are long, and safety technology such as AI cameras and stronger pushback fleets is becoming part of core turnaround capacity.
What happened
dnata, a global air and travel services provider, has committed AED 175 million to new ground support equipment (GSE) in the UAE since the start of the year. The investment covers more than 340 new assets, spanning fleet renewal and additional capacity, as the company prepares for continued growth in Dubai's aviation sector.
dnata currently operates approximately 2,800 motorised GSE assets across Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC). Much of the programme focuses on equipment with enhanced safety features and technology, alongside increased aircraft pushback and towing capability to strengthen the resilience of its ground handling operations.
New equipment includes aircraft loaders with features that make working at height safer, along with AI-enabled detection cameras positioned beneath loading platforms. The cameras improve visibility in areas that can be difficult for operators to monitor and help identify potential hazards during ground handling. dnata is also strengthening its pushback and towing fleet, an essential part of aircraft turnaround.
dnata is also advancing automated aircraft docking systems and the use of 3D printing to produce selected GSE components, aimed at improving how equipment is operated, maintained and kept available for service. A selection of these technologies will be showcased at Airport Show 2026.
Beyond the UAE, dnata operates approximately 4,700 motorised GSE assets across its global network and provides ground handling and cargo services at 86 airports worldwide. In the 2025-26 financial year, its teams handled more than 888,000 aircraft turns and processed 3.2 million tonnes of cargo.
Industry impact & what to watch
Ground equipment has long procurement and delivery cycles, so a handler's fleet has to be planned several years ahead of demand. A commitment of this size, split between renewal and added capacity, is how a ground handler secures turnaround capability before traffic growth arrives rather than after it strains the apron.
The emphasis on under-platform detection cameras and loaders designed for safer work at height points to a segment where safety technology is moving from option to expected specification. Pushback and towing fleets matter in particular because equipment availability directly determines whether aircraft movements run on time, which makes spare capacity there a resilience measure and not only a growth measure.
The next visible marker is Airport Show 2026, where dnata will showcase a selection of these technologies, including automated docking systems and 3D-printed components.
