Dubai Airshow’s rise from 1989 to a global 2025 aviation powerhouse
A look at how the Dubai Airshow grew from 1989 roots to a world-leading aviation spectacle
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3 MIN READ
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1989 — President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (then Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces) and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai (then UAE Defence Minister), attend the inaugural Dubai ’89 Airshow on January 29, 1989.
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1989 — President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (then Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces) is briefed about the aircraft on display at the Dubai ’89 Airshow.
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1991: Dubai Airshow, the second edition of the event, was moved from January to November due to the Gulf War and had a strong military focus as a result of the regional conflict.
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The event experienced rapid growth and was three times larger than its inaugural 1989 show.
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1993: The Italian Air Force’s famed aerobatic squad, Frecce Tricolori, performs during the Dubai Airshow on October 28, 1993.
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1995: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attends the Dubai Airshow, marking another milestone year in the event’s growing global prominence.
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1997: A British Royal Navy helicopter participates in the Dubai Airshow on October 20, 1997.
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2000 :Patrouille de France performs an aerial display during the Dubai Airshow on November 15, 2000.
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2001: Crowds gather at the Dubai Airshow on November 8, 2001, at the Airport Expo.
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2003: The Red Arrows demonstrate their aerial skills during the Dubai Airshow on October 15, 2003.
Devadasan K P/Gulf News archives
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2003 — Members of the press cover the inauguration of the Dubai 2003 Airshow on December 7, 2003, by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (then Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces) and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (then UAE Defence Minister). The 8th International Aerospace Exhibition was held at Dubai Airport Expo.
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2005: The Dubai Airshow’s standout moment was the debut of the Airbus A380 in full Emirates livery, drawing global attention as the world’s largest passenger aircraft made a commanding appearance.
Devadasan K P/Gulf News archives
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Emirates announces multi-billion-dollar orders; the Airshow becomes a magnet for record-breaking deals.
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2007: The Red Arrows conduct a dramatic flypast over Dubai alongside a Boeing 777 during Exercise Eastern Arrow on November 14, 2007. The Burj Khalifa, then still under construction, is also visible in the backdrop.
Cpl Andy Benson/Gulf News archives
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2007: Crowds gather on the final day of the Dubai International Aerospace Exhibition at Dubai Airport Expo on November 15, 2007.
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2009: The Eurofighter Typhoon makes its Dubai Airshow debut, captured soaring over the Palm Jumeirah.
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2009: Italy’s Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team performs during the Dubai Airshow at Airport Expo on November 16, 2009.
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2011: Al Fursan and Patrouille de France fly in tight formation over the Palm Jumeirah during the Dubai Airshow.
Katsuhiko TOKUNAGA/DACT,INC.
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2013: The Dubai Police Band performs at the Dubai Airshow held at Dubai World Central. More than 115,000 people attended the spectacle, which took place from November 13 to 17 at its new home at DWC Airport. The event hosted over 1,400 exhibitors — a remarkable leap from the 200 who participated in the inaugural 1989 edition.
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2015: A visitor poses for a photo with a UAE Armed Forces Apache helicopter at the Dubai Airshow.
Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
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2017: A visitor takes a selfie with an Emirates A380 featuring the ‘Year of Zayed 2018’ logo on the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.
Virendra Saklani/Gulf News.
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2017: Emirates’ Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 open the Dubai Airshow flying display with a spectacular flypast alongside Al Fursan, the UAE’s national aerobatic team.
JEAN-VINCENT REYMONDON
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2019: Patrouille de France performs a vibrant flying display on the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.
Virendra Saklani/Gulf News.
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2021: Visitors attend the Dubai Airshow on November 16, 2021. It marked the world’s first major global aviation event since the pandemic, showcasing strong attendance and renewed confidence in international air travel.
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2023: Visitors attend the Dubai Airshow at Dubai World Central Airport, highlighting the event’s continued global appeal.
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Devadasan K PChief Visual Editor
Devadasan K P is the Chief Visual Editor at Gulf News, bringing more than 26 years of experience in photojournalism to the role. He leads the Visual desk with precision, speed, and a strong editorial instinct.
Whether he’s selecting images of royalty, chasing the biggest celebrity moments in Dubai, or covering live events himself, Devadasan is always a few steps ahead of the action.
Over the years, he has covered a wide range of major assignments — including the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, feature reportage from Afghanistan, the IMF World Bank meetings, and wildlife series from Kenya.
His work has been widely recognised with industry accolades, including the Minolta Photojournalist of the Year award in 2005, the Best Picture Award at the Dubai Shopping Festival in 2008, and a Silver Award from the Society for News Design in 2011.
He handles the newsroom pressure with a calm attitude, a quick response time, and his signature brand of good-natured Malayali humour. There's no fuss — just someone who gets the job done very well, every single time.
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