Spherical Insights Report Profiles Top Players in GCC Aircraft MRO Market, Projects 10.3% CAGR for 2026–2035
Why It MattersGulf states are building domestic maintenance capacity and licensing regimes, which could shift heavy-maintenance work and spare-parts flows toward the region and away from overseas providers.
Spherical Insights & Consulting projects that the GCC aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 10.3% between 2026 and 2035. The market covers MRO services for aircraft and components across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, including engine maintenance, airframe inspections, component repairs and aircraft modifications. Customers include commercial airlines, cargo operators, military aviation and private aircraft owners.
The report names expanding airline fleets, rising passenger traffic, higher aircraft utilization and regional aviation infrastructure investment as growth drivers. It cites government initiatives such as Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE's aviation development strategy, and notes that in February 2025 Saudi Arabia announced new industrial licenses for aircraft MRO activities to encourage investment and localization. It expects the Middle East & Africa region to grow fastest, on investment in domestic maintenance facilities, workforce development and aerospace localization, and North America to generate the largest demand through partnerships between Gulf airlines and U.S.-based aircraft and engine manufacturers. Trends it highlights include MRO facility expansion in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, specialized engine maintenance and digital MRO solutions.
Among the companies profiled, Emirates Engineering (Dubai), the maintenance division of Emirates Group, supports Emirates' fleet with airframe, engine-related, component and modification work; in May 2026 Emirates broke ground on a US$5.1 billion engineering complex at Dubai South designed to accommodate 28 wide-body aircraft simultaneously. Saudia Technic, formerly Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries, offers heavy maintenance, engine overhaul and component repair through a network of more than 40 local and international stations.
