Day four of the Dubai Airshow 2025 presented a dynamic air program showcasing the latest fighter jets, wide-body aircraft and advanced air mobility systems. From the high-speed maneuvers of the F-35 and Sukhoi 57 to the debut of the JOBY eVTOL, the flying display reflected the growing convergence between defense technology, sustainable aviation and next-generation aircraft design.
Read: Dubai Airshow 2025 Day 3: Etihad Airways and Silk Way West enhance cargo fleets and Emirates expands its A350 order book
The Baltic Bees aerobatic team took off from Latvia at 1:30 local time, performing high-energy maneuvers, sending colorful smoke billowing across the Dubai skyline. The baton was then passed to the Lockheed Martin F-35, which performed a controlled 15-minute air start, drawing attention for its short climb and low-speed control capabilities.
The balance of combat power and air agility was decided in the afternoon. Morocco’s Marche Verte team followed with a half-hour show, while the UAE’s Mirage 2000-9 returned to the skies shortly after. At 14:52, Airbus made its presence felt with a nine-minute display of the wide-body A350, the only large commercial aircraft on Thursday’s air show schedule.
Scroll down for a full summary of Day 4’s highlights and the latest news from Dubai Airshow 2025.
Read: Dubai Airshow 2025: A historic flight with an electric helicopter and a $52 billion Boeing deal
Dubai Airshow 2025 – the most important offers and news from the third day
Emirates Engineering Company has become the first Emirati organization to obtain the approval of the General Civil Aviation Authority for a major design modification
Emirates Engineering Company has achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first organization in the UAE to obtain Design Organization Approval (DOA) from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for major aircraft modifications, through Supplementary Type Certificates (STCs).
The direct endorsement by the General Civil Aviation Authority of the design work undertaken by Emirates Engineering Company enables the regulatory body to independently review and address major modifications, representing a milestone in aviation regulation in the UAE.
Adel Al Redha, Emirates Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said: “This approval radically changes our approach to aircraft modification. The in-house design and certification capability gives us direct control over our product development and helps us define our specifications and timeline.
“The timing is also consistent with our expansion into DWC, where this certification expertise will be an integral part of our engineering operations. We thank the General Civil Aviation Authority for its partnership in developing the regulatory framework that made this achievement possible.”
M. Aqeel Al Zarouni, Assistant Director General for Aviation Safety Affairs at the General Authority of Civil Aviation in the United Arab Emirates, said: “This accreditation represents an important progress in the development of the aircraft design and engineering approval system in the United Arab Emirates. It reflects the readiness of the regulatory framework that the General Authority of Civil Aviation is working to build to enable all maintenance and engineering service providers to enhance their capabilities.
Read: Dubai Airshow 2025 Day 2: Highlights and key announcements
Sanad, Strata and Sandan are cooperating to develop artificial intelligence and 3D printing in the aviation sector in the United Arab Emirates
Sanad, a global leader in aerospace engineering and leasing solutions, and Strata Manufacturing PJSC (Strata), an advanced aerostructures manufacturer, wholly owned by Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company PJSC (Mubadala), have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with Sandan, a UAE-based technology company specializing in additive manufacturing and AI-powered industrial automation, to explore the adoption of artificial intelligence, robotics and 3D. Printing in aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations and manufacturing.
The agreement was signed during the Dubai Airshow 2025, where the memorandum of understanding was signed by Mansour Janahi, Managing Director and CEO of Sanad Group, Sarah Abdullah Al Mamari, Acting CEO of Strata, and Huang Huang, Managing Director and CEO of Sandan, in the presence of Ismail Ali Abdullah, Executive Director of UAE Groups from Mubadala Investment Company, and Amer Siddiqui, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sanad Group.
The partnership will enhance the integration of AI-powered automation and advanced manufacturing solutions within Sanad and Strata’s operations. Sindan will support the deployment of intelligent robots for inspection and material handling, robotic systems for warehouse organization, and automated racking technologies to improve inventory management. In parallel, Sindan will design and 3D print specialized tools and assemblies to speed up tool production and enhance accuracy across Sanad’s MRO facilities and Strata Manufacturing.
By bringing together Sanad and Strata’s four decades of global MRO experience with Sanad’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, the collaboration represents a step forward in creating smarter, faster and more sustainable aviation maintenance solutions. It reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a global center for innovation and excellence in aerospace, demonstrating how local partnerships are redefining the future of aerospace engineering.
Emirates Airlines intends to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul for the Airbus A380 engine under the new Rolls-Royce deal
Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Emirates and Rolls-Royce today at the 2025 Dubai Airshow, Emirates will perform maintenance, repair and overhaul on the Trent 900 engines that will power its A380 fleet from 2027. Emirates has also extended its TotalCare service agreement with Rolls-Royce for its A380 aircraft until the 2040s.
Emirates will build a new facility with first operational forecasts from 2027. Emirates will complete fan case repairs at the facility, and Rolls-Royce will retain the capability to repair units within the global network.
Ahmed Safa, Head of Engineering, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul at Emirates, said: “With Emirates planning to continue operating our fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft into the 2040s, we wanted to secure our own engine maintenance capabilities. We are pleased to sign this agreement with Rolls-Royce, which takes our partnership even further. We will work closely with their team to bring the latest engine MRO capabilities to our facilities as part of the expansion of the Emirates Engineering Maintenance Centre. This is another value-added contribution. “For Dubai.” Growing capabilities of the aviation sector.”
Paul Keenan, Director of Business Aviation Aftersales at Rolls-Royce, said: “Today’s announcement represents another milestone in our journey to significantly increase our global MRO capabilities by 2030. Our global network brings together a strong mix of Rolls-Royce-owned facilities, joint ventures and strategic collaborations with industry partners. We are delighted to welcome Emirates to the mix ahead of the opening of the new facility in 2027.”
“The agreement will allow additional capacity across the entire Rolls-Royce network and reinforce our commitment to providing excellent products and services to our global customer base.”
Emirates showcases Emojet’s leadership in the field of aviation fuel
Emirates Oil Company PJSC (Emirates), the leading oil and gas company in the UAE, is highlighting the strength of its jet fuel business at the Dubai Airshow 2025 through its airline subsidiary, Emojet, one of the leading providers of jet fuel services at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai World Central). Emojet will host aviation, airport and industry partners at Chalet A52 from 17 to 21 November 2025, between 10:00am and 5:30pm at Al Maktoum International Airport.
Aviation fuel, one of the core pillars of the Emirates portfolio, is delivered through Emojet, which has been serving the UAE’s world-leading aviation industry since 1992. Today, Emojet supplies aviation fuel to many of the world’s leading international airlines at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, providing award-winning in-flight services built on safety, reliability and service excellence.
Flydubai and Dubai Airports sign an agreement at the Dubai Airshow to enhance financial efficiency
flydubai and Dubai Airports have entered a new chapter in their collaboration by signing a Service Level Agreement (SLA) at Dubai Airshow 2025, enhancing operational and financial efficiencies across the aviation ecosystem.
The new integration means that Dubai Airports has successfully linked flydubai’s systems to its operational database (ODMP) and billing platform (VEOVO) resulting in a fully automated and auditable billing process that replaces manual workflows with a more efficient, consistent and standardized approach.
What previously required thousands of PDF pages and lengthy OCR scans are now handled instantly by the standard iXML format. Dubai Airports can now send invoices directly to flydubai in digital form, allowing the airline to import and verify them instantly, a task that previously took weeks. The new system significantly improves the audit and compliance process across all passenger fares. Historically, the passenger billing process for major airlines such as Flydubai has been complex due to the large volume of data and difficulty of verification, but this integration has effectively solved those challenges.
From the Editor: This article will be updated throughout the day as more news and developments emerge from Day 4 of the Dubai Airshow 2025.
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