AIME and MRO Middle East return to Dubai this week
GoLive! Theater session at AIME 2025 in Dubai
Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME), co-located with MRO Middle East, is set to take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE, from February 4 to 5. The two-day exhibition event enables attendees to connect with industry experts, discover new technologies and stay at the forefront of the aviation industry's evolution.
MRO Middle East brings together leaders in aircraft maintenance, repair and operations to explore the latest technologies and strategies shaping the industry, while the AIME pavilion showcases the latest trends in cabin design, passenger comfort and inflight entertainment, offering a glimpse into the future of aircraft interiors.
This is the largest event of its kind in the MENA region, with more than 7,500 attendees and 250 exhibitors gathering for the expo annually.
Helen Curl, VP, Events, Aviation Week Network
Helen Curl, VP, Events, Aviation Week Network, tells PAX Tech, “AIME’s strength lies in its co-location with MRO Middle East, creating a single, highly focused platform that brings together the full aircraft lifecycle from interiors, cabin technology and passenger experience through to maintenance, repair, overhaul and aftermarket services.”
Curl says that while many global events address MRO or interiors in isolation, AIME and MRO Middle East collectively reflect how the industry operates.
“Airlines and operators increasingly make decisions that span cabin upgrades, connectivity, maintenance planning and lifecycle management, and the co-located format allows these conversations to happen in one place, with the right stakeholders present,” she explains.
A closer look at the 2026 conference program
The 2026 conference program for AIME and MRO Middle East centers around integration, efficiency and long-term value creation across the aircraft lifecycle. Curl reveals that key themes this year include:
- Cabin retrofit and modification strategies aligned with extended fleet lifecycles
- Connected aircraft and digital cabins, including IFE, satellite connectivity and data-driven maintenance insights
- Operational reliability and cost efficiency, linking interiors, components and MRO planning
- Sustainability in cabins and aftermarket services, from materials and weight reduction to repair and reuse
- Passenger experience as a commercial differentiator, balanced with maintenance and operational realities
- Infrastructure developments to meet projected MRO demand
“By addressing these themes together, the conference reflects the increasing convergence between passenger experience innovation and MRO decision-making,” she says.
Facilitating meaningful connections
AIME and MRO ME attendees will be able to take advantage of numerous feature areas and zones throughout the showfloor designed for both pre-planned and ad-hoc networking at the 2026 event.
These include three networking zones (Airline Lounge, App Meeting Zone, Networking Lounge), connecting airline, MRO and supplier communities.
Curl says there are conference sessions “designed to encourage peer-level discussion, rather than purely presentation-led formats” as well as a stronger alignment between conference content and the exhibition floor, enabling visitors to connect insight with solutions.
“The goal is to ensure participants can move seamlessly between strategy, technology and commercial conversations,” she explains.
As the Middle East continues to strengthen its position as a global aviation hub, Curl says the event is increasingly positioned as a gateway for global suppliers entering or expanding in the region and a platform showcasing regional MRO and interiors expertise to an international audience. It also provides a forum for discussing future-ready solutions in a practical context.
“Together, AIME and MRO Middle East reflect the region’s move from being a consumer of aviation solutions to a driver of industry standards and innovation,” she says.
Future-forward innovation
Looking ahead to next year’s event, Curl highlights AIME and MRO ME 2027 as “the perfect platform for organizations that want to engage with the regional aftermarket, and to be in front of the people who are making commercial at scale.”
For stakeholders planning 2027, the exhibition offers direct access to airlines, operators and MROs actively investing in interiors, connectivity and aftermarket services, as well as a focused environment that encourages meaningful business conversations.
Curl says it is, “An event aligned with real operational challenges and investment timelines.”
The 2027 event is scheduled to take place on February 2 and 3, event organizers tell PAX Tech.
