Middle East & Africa Aircraft MRO Market Size and Forecast (2021 - 2031), Regional Share, Trend, and Growth Opportunity Analysis Report Coverage: By Component (Engine MRO, Avionics MRO, Airframe MRO, Cabin MRO, Landing Gear MRO, and Other Components), Air
Description
The Middle East and Africa (MEA) aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) market is projected to grow significantly, reaching approximately USD 20,743.24 million by 2031, up from USD 13,259.52 million in 2024. This growth represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0% from 2025 to 2031. Key contributors to this market include South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which are leading nations in the region's aircraft MRO sector.
The MEA region has a robust air traffic capacity, which has led to a substantial supply of services from major operators. However, the limited economic activity in certain areas may hinder the growth of the airline industry. While Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are economically advanced, many African nations are still developing, which affects their aviation sectors. The construction of new airports in major Gulf cities is a significant driver of fleet growth in the region, thereby increasing the demand for MRO services. Notably, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are investing heavily in both new defense aircraft and the maintenance of their existing fleets.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aviation industry in the Middle East is expanding at an annual rate of 10%. This growth in the aviation sector is a key factor driving the demand for MRO solutions, as airlines seek to manage air traffic more efficiently. Oliver Wyman's analysis indicates that the MEA region had over 2,700 operational commercial aircraft in 2025, with projections suggesting this number will rise to approximately 4,034 by 2035. This increase in aircraft numbers will necessitate more MRO services, particularly for critical components such as engines and airframes.
Despite these positive trends, economic and political challenges in Africa have led to stagnant airline traffic growth, which has limited the demand for MRO services in the region. South African Airways Technical (SAAT) is a leading MRO service provider in Africa, focusing on expanding its third-party business. However, the aftermarket for aircraft components is increasingly dominated by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), posing a competitive threat to independent MROs as OEMs expand their presence in this sector.
Governments in the MEA region are actively working to enhance airport processes to improve efficiency, often incorporating advanced technological systems to upgrade their fleets to next-generation aircraft. Additionally, there is growing interest in blockchain technology among MROs in the region, which could further streamline operations and enhance service delivery.
The Middle East and Africa aircraft MRO market can be segmented based on components, aircraft types, and end users. In terms of components, the market includes engine MRO, avionics MRO, airframe MRO, cabin MRO, landing gear MRO, and others. The engine MRO segment is expected to hold the largest market share in 2024. When categorized by aircraft type, the market is divided into fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, with fixed-wing aircraft dominating the market share. Furthermore, the end-user segmentation includes commercial and military sectors, with the commercial segment also holding a larger share in 2024.
As airlines strive to maximize aircraft utilization to meet rising passenger demand, aircraft are spending more time in the air, necessitating more frequent maintenance checks to ensure safety and airworthiness. The increase in air travel has led airlines to operate more flights with shorter turnaround times, placing additional demands on maintenance operations. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) increased by 10.4% in 2024 compared to 2023, with international traffic rising by 13.6% and domestic traffic by 5.7%.
Regionally, the Asia Pacific leads the global market with a 33.5% share of RPKs and a year-on-year growth of 16.9%. Europe follows with a 26.7% share and an 8.7% increase, while North America holds 22.9% with a modest growth of 4.6%. The Middle East contributes 9.4% to the global market, growing at 9.5%, while Africa, despite being the smallest market at 2.2%, shows a strong growth rate of 13.2%.
In terms of country-specific insights, the UAE is the largest market in the MEA for aircraft MRO services as of 2024. The UAE's aviation sector is expanding due to industrialization, leading to an increase in international passengers and aircraft, which in turn boosts air traffic. Airport facilities are enhancing their capabilities to handle this growth, exemplified by the Sharjah Airport Authority's expansion project aimed at accommodating 20 million passengers by 2023. Global players are also increasing their presence in the UAE through strategic partnerships, such as the memorandum of understanding signed between Marshall, an aerospace and defense organization, and AMMROC, a UAE-based MRO service provider.
Key players in the Middle East and Africa aircraft MRO market include AAR CORP, Barnes Group Inc, GE Aerospace, FLTechnics, Turkish Technic, Singapore Technologies Engineering, Lufthansa Technik, Delta TechOps, Rolls-Royce Holdings, and Collins Aerospace. These companies are pursuing various strategies, including expansion, product innovation, and mergers and acquisitions, to enhance their market share and offer innovative solutions to their customers.
The MEA region has a robust air traffic capacity, which has led to a substantial supply of services from major operators. However, the limited economic activity in certain areas may hinder the growth of the airline industry. While Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are economically advanced, many African nations are still developing, which affects their aviation sectors. The construction of new airports in major Gulf cities is a significant driver of fleet growth in the region, thereby increasing the demand for MRO services. Notably, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are investing heavily in both new defense aircraft and the maintenance of their existing fleets.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aviation industry in the Middle East is expanding at an annual rate of 10%. This growth in the aviation sector is a key factor driving the demand for MRO solutions, as airlines seek to manage air traffic more efficiently. Oliver Wyman's analysis indicates that the MEA region had over 2,700 operational commercial aircraft in 2025, with projections suggesting this number will rise to approximately 4,034 by 2035. This increase in aircraft numbers will necessitate more MRO services, particularly for critical components such as engines and airframes.
Despite these positive trends, economic and political challenges in Africa have led to stagnant airline traffic growth, which has limited the demand for MRO services in the region. South African Airways Technical (SAAT) is a leading MRO service provider in Africa, focusing on expanding its third-party business. However, the aftermarket for aircraft components is increasingly dominated by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), posing a competitive threat to independent MROs as OEMs expand their presence in this sector.
Governments in the MEA region are actively working to enhance airport processes to improve efficiency, often incorporating advanced technological systems to upgrade their fleets to next-generation aircraft. Additionally, there is growing interest in blockchain technology among MROs in the region, which could further streamline operations and enhance service delivery.
The Middle East and Africa aircraft MRO market can be segmented based on components, aircraft types, and end users. In terms of components, the market includes engine MRO, avionics MRO, airframe MRO, cabin MRO, landing gear MRO, and others. The engine MRO segment is expected to hold the largest market share in 2024. When categorized by aircraft type, the market is divided into fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, with fixed-wing aircraft dominating the market share. Furthermore, the end-user segmentation includes commercial and military sectors, with the commercial segment also holding a larger share in 2024.
As airlines strive to maximize aircraft utilization to meet rising passenger demand, aircraft are spending more time in the air, necessitating more frequent maintenance checks to ensure safety and airworthiness. The increase in air travel has led airlines to operate more flights with shorter turnaround times, placing additional demands on maintenance operations. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) increased by 10.4% in 2024 compared to 2023, with international traffic rising by 13.6% and domestic traffic by 5.7%.
Regionally, the Asia Pacific leads the global market with a 33.5% share of RPKs and a year-on-year growth of 16.9%. Europe follows with a 26.7% share and an 8.7% increase, while North America holds 22.9% with a modest growth of 4.6%. The Middle East contributes 9.4% to the global market, growing at 9.5%, while Africa, despite being the smallest market at 2.2%, shows a strong growth rate of 13.2%.
In terms of country-specific insights, the UAE is the largest market in the MEA for aircraft MRO services as of 2024. The UAE's aviation sector is expanding due to industrialization, leading to an increase in international passengers and aircraft, which in turn boosts air traffic. Airport facilities are enhancing their capabilities to handle this growth, exemplified by the Sharjah Airport Authority's expansion project aimed at accommodating 20 million passengers by 2023. Global players are also increasing their presence in the UAE through strategic partnerships, such as the memorandum of understanding signed between Marshall, an aerospace and defense organization, and AMMROC, a UAE-based MRO service provider.
Key players in the Middle East and Africa aircraft MRO market include AAR CORP, Barnes Group Inc, GE Aerospace, FLTechnics, Turkish Technic, Singapore Technologies Engineering, Lufthansa Technik, Delta TechOps, Rolls-Royce Holdings, and Collins Aerospace. These companies are pursuing various strategies, including expansion, product innovation, and mergers and acquisitions, to enhance their market share and offer innovative solutions to their customers.
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