Middle East Helicopter Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Civil & Commercial and Military), By Weight (Light, Medium, and Heavy), By Application (Emergency Medical Service, Corporate Service, Search and Rescue Operation, Oil & Gas, Defense, Homeland Security, and Others), By Point of Sale (New and Pre Owned), and Regional Forecast, 2023-2030

The Middle East is an emerging market for helicopters, with a projected CAGR of 1.5% during the forecast period. The global helicopter market size is projected to grow from USD 56.87 billion in 2022 to USD 76.16 billion by 2030.

The growing demand for helicopters in offshore oil and gas activities drives the region's market growth. Increasing demand for applications, such as emergency medical services, VIP transport, heavy lift helicopters, offshore oil and gas operations, and tourism, is expected to propel the Middle East helicopter market growth.

• For instance, in 2023, according to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, all regions experienced a considerable surge in international arrivals in 2022 compared to the previous year. However, the Middle East recorded the highest relative increase, with international tourist numbers reaching 83% of pre-pandemic levels last year.

The Middle East helicopter market covers the following countries/regions – Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, and the Rest of the Middle East.

LATEST TRENDS

Increasing Demand for Air Taxis and Charter Services Offers New Growth Opportunities

The Middle East is home to a growing population of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) corporations who value convenience, comfort, and privacy. Air taxis and charter services can provide a personalized and exclusive experience that meets the expectations of this customer segment. This region also has a large and growing tourism industry. This resulted in the increased demand for air taxis and charter services, typically provided by helicopters.

DRIVING FACTORS

Rising Offshore Oil and Gas Operations to Accelerate the Middle East Market Growth

Helicopters are crucial for offshore oil and gas operations as the Middle East is home to some of the world's largest oil reserves. The region's oil and gas industry heavily relies on rotorcraft transportation for personnel and equipment. The rising number of oil rigs and exploration activities in the region is expected to boost the market. In addition, rotor-wing aircraft can quickly and easily access offshore oil and gas rigs, which are often located in remote areas, making them an essential tool for the oil and gas industry in the Middle East region.

Moreover, the discovery of new oil and gas fields results in increasing investment in the Middle East's oil and gas sector, driving the demand for rotor-wing aircraft as a means of transport for the industry's employees and executives. This is expected to lead to a significant growth during the forecast period in that region.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Political and Economic Instability to Limit the Market Growth

Political and economic instability is a significant factor that can limit the growth of the market in the Middle East & Africa region. This is attributed to the fact that the demand for rotorcraft is directly related to the region's economic and political stability. Political instability, such as civil unrest, terrorism, and geopolitical tensions, can create an uncertain environment that adversely affects the market.

For instance, the ongoing conflict in Yemen and Syria resulted in the disruption of the aviation industry, which includes rotor-wing aircraft. This has reduced the demand for new rotorcraft and a decline in the maintenance & repair of existing rotorcraft, thereby limiting the market growth.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

In terms of the competitive landscape, Airbus SE, Textron Inc., Leonardo SpA, Lockheed Martin Corporation, the Boeing Company, and Rostec have active involvement in R&D investments, which is set to accelerate product launches and approvals in the forecast period.

Other prominent players include the Robinson Helicopter Company, Turkish Aerospace Industries, Kaman Corporation, and MD Helicopters Inc. These companies are focused on strengthening their product portfolio and distribution network through strategic collaborations and partnerships to increase the Middle East helicopter market share.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Airbus S.A.S (Netherlands)
• Textron Inc. (U.S.)
• Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy)
• Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.)
• The Boeing Company (U.S.)
• Rostec (Russia)
• Turkish Aerospace Industries (Turkey)
• The Robinson Helicopter Company (U.S.)
• Kaman Corporation (U.S.)
• MD Helicopters Inc. (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• July 2022 – Falcon Aviation Services, a UAE-based company that offers in-house and third-party aviation support and operational services, ordered five H130 large-cabin single helicopters. This order adds to its previous agreements with Airbus S.A.S, including purchasing 10 H125 single and 20 H145 twin helcopters, which are intended to use for various applications, such as air ambulance duty and aerial work, and will be deployed in Saudi Arabia.
• July 2022 - Airbus Helicopters Arabia signed a contract with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), a state-owned aerospace and defence company based in Saudi Arabia. This agreement aims to enhance SAMI's technical capabilities and provide technical support for rotorcraft to the Saudi Armed Forces.
• June 2021 - Aeroter, a Czech aircraft manufacturer, announced that it received a letter of intent from the Tawazun Economic Council to purchase 100 VRT500 helicopters. The deal is valued at approximately USD 248.45 billion. The VRT500 is a light, single-engine rotor-wing aircraft that can carry up to five passengers and has a range of up to 860 kilometers.
• October 2018 – The U.S. Army awarded a contract worth USD 242 million to Boeing Company for delivering Apache AH-64E helicopters expected to be delivered by 2023.

REPORT COVERAGE

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The research report provides qualitative and quantitative insights into the market and a detailed analysis of the Middle East helicopter market size & growth rate for all possible segments in the market. Along with the market forecast, the research report elaborates on the market trends, dynamics, and competitive landscape. Various key insights presented in the report are overview of the number of procedures, an overview of price analysis of types of products, an overview of the regulatory scenario by key countries, pipeline analysis, new product launches, key industry developments – mergers, acquisitions & partnerships and, the impact of COVID-19 on the market.

Report Scope & Segmentation