Dubai Air Navigation Services, Emirates Airline, and Thales sign Collaborative Research Agreement to advance flight efficiency through innovative solutions

• Initiative aims to support air traffic controllers and airlines to significantly reduce fuel burn, and to deliver more on-time arrivals.
• This research partnership aims to advance operations via an AI-powered digital solution which can mitigate up to 40% of holding patterns at Dubai’s arrival airport.
• New system will predict UAE airspace congestion and generate proactive recommendations in order to modify flight plans whenever appropriate and reduce holding.

Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS), Emirates Airline and Thales have signed a Collaborative Research Agreement (CRA) to pioneer cutting-edge research aimed at reducing holding patterns for all flights arriving at Dubai International, supporting more efficient UAE airspace management. This collaboration for a safer and more efficient UAE airspace management reinforces the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 target.

Holding patterns provide a safe, orderly system to sequence arriving aircraft during peak traffic and runway congestion. Aircraft fly carefully choreographed racetrack-shaped circuits at designated altitudes to ensure smooth arrivals. While holding patterns are essential for safety and operational flow, minimizing their occurrence reduces fuel consumption and associated carbon emissions.

Under this agreement, the three partners will work together to research innovative ways to optimise aviation traffic management. Central to their efforts will be the integration of advanced AI technologies, which will play a pivotal role in identifying potential congestion areas and providing recommendations to stakeholders. By leveraging these AI-driven insights, the collaboration aims to help air traffic controllers and airlines minimise delays, enhance predictability, and boost operational efficiency throughout the entire airspace network.

“This innovative partnership with Dubai Air Navigation Services and Emirates Airline will allow us to strengthen the UAE’s airspace management technologies. Thales will bring its advanced capabilities in digital technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and air traffic management, to support the UAE’s vision of a more secure, connected, and sustainable aviation sector.” Abdelhafid Mordi, Vice President of Thales in UAE and Iraq, and CEO of Thales Emarat Technologies.

“This research agreement with Thales and DANS represents a practical application of AI to solve a real operational challenge. By predicting congestion and adjusting cruise speeds proactively, we not only reduce fuel burn associated with holding patterns but are also optimising our operational efficiencies. If successful, this solution can benefit other airlines, turning a shared problem into an opportunity for improvement." Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer Emirates Airline.

Thales is present at the Dubai Airshow on stand #740. To find out more about Thales in the United Arab Emirates, please go to: Thales in the UAE | Thales Group.

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.