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According to the recent Air Transport IT Insights 2025 report published on 16 April 2026 by SITA, the aviation industry’s main IT and telecoms vendor, 100% of surveyed airlines in the Middle East and Africa increased their IT spending, recording the highest level of financial commitment globally, yet only 44% of airports in the region raised their technology budgets during the same period. As David Lavorel, Chief Executive Officer of SITA, noted, “Across every area we measured, the same constraint emerges: where data does not flow freely across systems and partners, investment cannot fully deliver what it was designed to unlock.
This highlights a significant gap between airline and airport IT investment. Bridging this disconnect is critical to avoiding operational bottlenecks, as Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General of ACI World (Airports Council International), explained back in 2024, “Technology will play an important element in getting us where we want to go. Traffic will double by 2044, yet we won’t be able to double our infrastructure or our workforce. We can’t be resilient, we can’t be efficient, and we can’t be sustainable unless we build the airports of tomorrow on the framework of technology.”
While ‘smart airports’ are often seen as futuristic, several MENA airports are already implementing targeted investments to bridge this gap, leading infrastructure overhauls that transform the entire journey from aircraft maintenance to passenger arrival.
To address inefficiencies inherent in manual maintenance logs, this digital overhaul incorporates EASA -compliant biometric protocols for secure sign-offs and an AI-driven system. Developed in partnership with EmpowerMX, an aviation software provider, the solution ensures operational security.
“The Paperless Project is defining a new milestone in our journey to set new standards for the MRO industry. By embedding AI-supported processes into our operations while meeting the highest regulatory standards, we are ensuring precision, agility, and transparency at every level. This transformation strengthens Joramco’s competitive edge and reinforces our commitment to exceeding client expectations,” stated Adam Voss, Chief Executive Officer of Joramco.
Air traffic operations at Hamad International Airport Credit: Frequentis website
Remote Air Traffic Control: Al Ula & DOH
This modernisation extends from the hangar to the control tower. In a historic first for the Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s Al Ula International Airport has launched a fully remote, digital Air Traffic Control (ATC) virtual tower.
In partnership with Indra and NERA, Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS) now manages airspace monitoring from a specialised control centre in Jeddah, about 550 kilometres from the airport. The system uses a sensory mast with high-definition 4K cameras that stream real-time visuals to a 360-degree videowall, and overlays critical flight data using augmented reality.
“The integration of SANS’s operational expertise with the innovative capabilities of the virtual tower demonstrates our dedication to transforming air navigation services. This partnership enhances our ability to provide seamless, safe, and efficient air traffic management, paving the way for a smarter and more connected aviation future,” said Saleh Alzahrani, COO of Saudi Air Navigation Services.
Qatar’s Hamad International Airport further demonstrates the viability of remote airspace management with the Middle East’s first certified large-scale hybrid digital ATC tower. Developed by AI specialist Searidge Technologies with ADB Safegate and NATS, the system uses AI and ultra-high-definition imaging for a 360-degree view of the western expansion. By combining this live feed with surface movement surveillance, the virtual tower improves safety and situational awareness, removing the need for a costly second physical tower.
Passport-Free Travel: How Dubai Processes Flyers in Seconds
High-definition biometric cameras capable of dual facial and iris recognition match passengers against identity databases in real time. The system processes up to 10 travellers simultaneously in 6 to 14 seconds as they walk through the tunnel.
Brigadier Walid Ahmed Saeed, Assistant Deputy Director for Airport Affairs at GDRFA Dubai, summarised the achievement: “This service, which is the first of its kind globally, allows you to complete your travel procedures in seconds without presenting any travel documents”.
Smart Gates at DXB’s Terminal 1 Credit: Dubai Airportswebsite
Smart Luggage Tracking: Saudi Arabia’s Direct-to-Hotel Baggage
The annual Hajj pilgrimage creates significant logistical challenges, requiring strict crowd control and baggage management. The ‘Makkah Route Initiative’ addresses congestion at King Abdulaziz International Airport by moving border clearance to the pilgrim’s country of origin.
At international ports, Saudi personnel use mobile biometric capture units to clear pilgrims before departure. Their baggage is fitted with smart electronic tags encoded with each pilgrim’s accommodation coordinates in Makkah or Madinah.
This comprehensive digital pre-clearance programme operates across 17 international ports in 10 countries for the 2026 cycle. The Saudi Press Agency highlighted the efficiency of this system: “The baggage journey begins the moment it is handed over at the initiative’s designated hall, where it is electronically coded and sorted according to precise routing paths”.
The high-speed train station in Madinah. Photo: Besides the Obvious/Shutterstock.com.
Unifying MENA’s Smart Aviation Tech
Currently, these technologies—paperless hangars, remote control towers, biometric immigration, and smart luggage systems—operate effectively but remain isolated across the MENA region.
If these advancements were combined into a unified hub, the passenger experience would be unprecedented. Travellers could enjoy document-free clearance, seamless boarding, direct-to-hotel baggage delivery, and flights monitored by AI-augmented remote towers with digitally tracked maintenance.
The new generation of ‘smart’ airports in the region—such as Saudi Arabia’s King Salman International, Kuwait International Airport’s Terminal 2, UAE’s Al Maktoum expansion, and Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport expansion—certainly aim to bring us closer to the reality of this unified, seamless vision. By eliminating data fragmentation and investing in integrated IT, the MENA region is positioned to strengthen its global standing through advanced aviation systems.
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