Dubai Air Navigation Services, Emirates Airline, and Thales Advance UAE Airspace Efficiency Through New AI-Enabled Research Partnership

Dubai Air Navigation Services, Emirates Airline, and Thales Advance UAE Airspace Efficiency Through New AI-Enabled Research Partnership © Flat Earth

(IN BRIEF) Dubai Air Navigation Services, Emirates Airline, and Thales have signed a Collaborative Research Agreement to advance air traffic efficiency at Dubai International Airport by reducing holding patterns through AI-driven solutions. The initiative aims to cut fuel burn, lower carbon emissions, and improve on-time performance by predicting congestion and providing early recommendations to adjust flight plans. The partnership supports the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 objective and focuses on integrating advanced artificial intelligence to enhance predictability and streamline airspace operations. Leaders from Thales and Emirates emphasized that this collaboration represents a meaningful step toward more sustainable, efficient, and technologically advanced air traffic management in the UAE.

(PRESS RELEASE) DUBAI, 20-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS), Emirates Airline, and Thales have entered into a new Collaborative Research Agreement designed to push forward the next generation of air traffic efficiency solutions in the UAE. The partnership focuses on significantly reducing holding patterns for aircraft arriving at Dubai International Airport—an initiative aligned with the country’s broader commitment to safer, more efficient airspace operations and the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 ambitions.

Holding patterns, which require aircraft to fly racetrack-style loops at assigned altitudes while awaiting landing clearance, remain an important tool for ensuring safety and maintaining an orderly flow of arrivals during peak congestion. However, frequent holding contributes to fuel burn, increased emissions, and delayed arrival times. By exploring new methods to cut down on such occurrences, the three organizations aim to create tangible improvements in both operational sustainability and passenger experience.

Under the research agreement, DANS, Emirates, and Thales will collaborate on developing advanced, AI-enabled technologies capable of predicting airspace congestion early and recommending proactive adjustments to flight plans. The solution is expected to support air traffic controllers and airlines by improving decision-making, minimizing holding requirements, and enhancing the overall predictability of air traffic movements. Early estimates indicate that the approach could mitigate up to 40% of holding patterns at Dubai’s arrival airport.

This work seeks to modernize operations through data-driven insights that improve fuel efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and maintain seamless flow across the UAE’s airspace network. The initiative also aims to serve as a model for how AI-powered tools can help address complex operational challenges in global aviation.

Abdelhafid Mordi, Vice President of Thales in UAE and Iraq and CEO of Thales Emarat Technologies, emphasized the importance of the collaboration, noting that Thales’ digital technologies, artificial intelligence expertise, and air traffic management capabilities will support the UAE’s vision for a more sustainable and well-connected aviation ecosystem.

Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer at Emirates Airline, highlighted that the agreement represents a practical application of AI, allowing the airline to predict congestion and adjust cruise speeds in advance. He noted that the efficiency gains extend beyond environmental benefits, offering improved operational performance and potential advantages for the wider aviation sector.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies. Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

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SOURCE: Thales