United Arab EmiratesEmirati airlines

Emirates in Dubai and Etihad in Abu Dhabi operate large long-haul fleets, alongside flydubai and Air Arabia.

8 airlines

Network airlines

Scheduled airlines with a hub and connecting flights – usually on short-, medium- and long-haul routes.

Emirates

EK / UAE

The long-haul airline from Dubai: Emirates operates the world’s largest A380 fleet, flies almost exclusively widebody jets and is a fixture of everyday spotting at four German airports.

Etihad Airways

EY / ETD

The airline from Abu Dhabi: Etihad flies 787s, A350-1000s and a small A380 fleet through its Zayed International hub and is a regular sight in Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf.

Low-cost carriers

Cheap point-to-point flights, often with a single-type fleet, many bases and short turnaround times.

Air Arabia

G9 / ABY

The low-cost pioneer of the Arab world: Air Arabia flies only Airbus A320s and A321s from Sharjah, has subsidiaries in three countries and has also been landing in Munich since December 2025.

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi

3L / ADY

The capital’s low-cost airline: Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is a joint venture of Air Arabia and Etihad, has flown only Airbus A320s since July 2020 and connects Zayed International with destinations in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

flydubai

FZ / FDB

Dubai’s second airline: flydubai flies only Boeing 737s, connects Dubai with more than 125 destinations and shows up in German-speaking Europe mainly in Salzburg and Basel – a case for targeted spotting trips.

Cargo airlines

All-cargo airlines, cargo subsidiaries and express services with their own freighters.

Maximus Air Cargo

MXU

The Abu Dhabi cargo airline flies outsize loads with an An-124 Ruslan and Il-76TDs – for relief organizations, industry and the military. A rare visitor for spotters.

Charter & wet lease

Companies that fly aircraft with crew for other airlines, tour operators or sports teams.

Royal Jet

ROJ

VIP charter from Abu Dhabi: Royal Jet flies one of the largest fleets of Boeing Business Jets in the world, plus Bombardier Global 5000s – and has ordered three ACJ320neos.

Government & state flights

Government flight services and state carriers that fly government members and delegations.

Presidential Flight

MO / AUH

The flight operation of the Abu Dhabi government, known as Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight until 2009: a small VIP fleet of Boeing 737 BBJ, 777 and 787 jets with civil A6- registrations, based in Abu Dhabi, callsign SULTAN.

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