Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation head and UAE aviation officials discussed improving operational and technical cooperation and exploring the possibility of launching new flight routes during Dubai Airshow 2025, Iran's Tahlil Bazar and state IRNA reported on November 19.

The official meeting brought together Hossein Pourfarzaneh, head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, and three prominent UAE aviation figures as Tehran seeks to boost its air travel again following the 12-day war with Israel earlier this year. 

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chairman of the UAE Civil Aviation Authority and head of civil aviation, attended the meeting and discussed developing joint cooperation with the Iranian side.

Sheikh Hamad Obaidalla, chief commercial officer of flydubai and an influential figure in the UAE aviation industry, participated in the meeting and played an active role in discussions on flight development and bilateral cooperation.

Mohammed Lengawi, director general and president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, also attended and exchanged views on strengthening regulatory, technical and airport cooperation with Iran.

The main focus of negotiations was expanding aviation cooperation between the two countries, including increasing bilateral flights, developing international routes, improving operational and technical cooperation and examining the possibility of launching new flight routes.

At the meeting's conclusion, Pourfarzaneh issued an official invitation to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and senior UAE aviation managers to visit Iran and continue discussions.

The meeting is assessed as an important step in upgrading aviation relations between Iran and the UAE and strengthening regional interactions, as Iranian airlines struggle to operate under worsening financial and safety conditions in recent years due to sanctions. 

Persian Gulf airlines have increasingly operated routes to Iran in recent years, mopping up traffic from the country, with Turkish Airlines and low-cost Pegasus also taking a large share. 

Emirates operates three daily flights between Dubai (DXB) and Tehran (IKA) in October 2025, with each flight departing and arriving at different times of day.

Flydubai offers daily flights to Tehran, Mashhad, and Bandar Abbas, with services resuming fully after recent airspace restrictions. Air Arabia also operates flights from Sharjah to Tehran and Shiraz, gradually restoring its Iranian network following the reopening of regional airspace.

Etihad Airways does not currently operate direct flights to Iran, focusing instead on other routes; however, prior to the ongoing hostilities across the region, the airline used to fly in.  Etihad suspended its flights to Iran on January 24, as part of a broader route review and due to ongoing regional tensions, according to an official readout at the time.