A flydubai display at the Dubai Airshow. The airline expects to add Starlink to the majority of its fleet next year. Reuters
A flydubai display at the Dubai Airshow. The airline expects to add Starlink to the majority of its fleet next year. Reuters
A flydubai display at the Dubai Airshow. The airline expects to add Starlink to the majority of its fleet next year. Reuters
A flydubai display at the Dubai Airshow. The airline expects to add Starlink to the majority of its fleet next year. Reuters

Business

Aviation

Flydubai joins Emirates in adding Starlink for superfast inflight Wi-Fi

Service to be installed on 100 of the airline's planes next year

Aarti Nagraj
Aarti Nagraj

November 18, 2025

  • English
  • Arabic

Flydubai is to install Starlink on its aircraft to offer free and fast Wi-Fi, with the Dubai airline joining Emirates in providing the service to boost inflight connectivity.

Starlink is set to be added to the low-cost airline’s fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, with installation for 100 planes to be carried out in 2026, flydubai said in a statement at the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday. It expects to bring the service to the majority of its fleet next year.

The service will deliver "high-speed, low-latency broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls", the airline added.

  • A display by the Airbus 350 at the Dubai Airshow. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A display by the Airbus 350 at the Dubai Airshow. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The event is attracting lots of delegates to Al Maktoum International Airport
    The event is attracting lots of delegates to Al Maktoum International Airport
  • Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and group, at a media conference at the event
    Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and group, at a media conference at the event
  • The Rafale fighter jet is worth a watch as it takes to the skies above Dubai
    The Rafale fighter jet is worth a watch as it takes to the skies above Dubai
  • Brad McMullen, left, from Boeing and Yankoba Dieme from Air Senagal sign an agreement
    Brad McMullen, left, from Boeing and Yankoba Dieme from Air Senagal sign an agreement
  • An air defence system on display
    An air defence system on display
  • The UAE's Al Fursan aerobatic team put on a display
    The UAE's Al Fursan aerobatic team put on a display
  • Emirates cabin crew arrive
    Emirates cabin crew arrive
  • The Omen drone is displayed at the Edge stand
    The Omen drone is displayed at the Edge stand
  • Visitors arrive for the event, which is pivotal for airlines in the Middle East
    Visitors arrive for the event, which is pivotal for airlines in the Middle East
  • Abu Dhabi's Edge is among the companies exhibiting technology at the event
    Abu Dhabi's Edge is among the companies exhibiting technology at the event
  • A turboprop engine. Companies use the event to meet plane makers, engine manufacturers and seat suppliers
    A turboprop engine. Companies use the event to meet plane makers, engine manufacturers and seat suppliers
  • Visitors take a closer look at an Emirates Boeing 777
    Visitors take a closer look at an Emirates Boeing 777
  • A model of a MAH-1 Marine attack helicopter. It is among the aircraft in the spotlight at the exhibition
    A model of a MAH-1 Marine attack helicopter. It is among the aircraft in the spotlight at the exhibition
  • A spacesuit worn by SpaceX astronauts
    A spacesuit worn by SpaceX astronauts
  • Model rockets at the Innospace stand. Space technology is in focus at the air show
    Model rockets at the Innospace stand. Space technology is in focus at the air show

The agreement is part of "our ongoing efforts to elevate the travel experience, providing fast, reliable internet access across our growing network", said Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive of flydubai. "Reliable connectivity has become essential and our partnership with Starlink allows us to meet the evolving expectations of today’s travellers."

This week, Emirates also announced a partnership with Starlink, with the airline expecting to complete the full programme by mid-2027 on all of its 232 Boeing and Airbus wide-body aircraft.

While the UAE has not yet announced regulatory approval or agreements for satellite operators such as Starlink to begin operations in the country, the service will start on aircraft shortly after take-off.

“Fast, free internet isn’t just a game-changer for our customers, it also gives our crew the real-time data and information they need," said Daniel Kerrison, senior vice president of inflight operations at flydubai.

Flydubai has been investing in premium products and services to expand beyond the low-cost business model it established when it began operations in June 2009.

Last month, the airline said that, from November, it will include meals and in-flight entertainment for passengers in economy class. The Dubai-based carrier said the change marked a major step in its ongoing investment in customer service and product development.

In the past few years, flydubai has also introduced a dedicated business class check-in area and opened a business class lounge at Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport.

Zidane's managerial achievements

La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017

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Director: James Cameron

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Rating: 4.5/5

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

MATCH RESULT

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Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')

While you're here
Gitex 2018
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
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While you're here
While you're here
About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

Thor%3A%20Love%20and%20Thunder%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Taika%20Waititi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Hemsworth%2C%20Natalie%20Portman%2C%20Christian%20Bale%2C%20Russell%20Crowe%2C%20Tessa%20Thompson%2C%20Taika%20Waititi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net

Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.

Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.

A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.

Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

Updated: November 18, 2025, 8:14 AM
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