ABU DHABI: The profitability of airlines based in the UAE, the Middle East’s main aviation hub, is likely to fall this year amid limited growth in demand, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Tuesday.
“The UAE carriers will have a year that is probably below 2016,” Alexandre de Juniac, director-general and chief executive of the IATA, told reporters in Abu Dhabi.
Low-cost carriers that offer long-haul services, as seen in Europe, could also soon start to take hold in the region, he said.
IATA said in December that Middle East airlines are likely to see profits fall to $300 million in 2017 from $900 million last year in part due to high capacity and limited demand growth, but did not give specifics on UAE carriers at that time.
Half-year profit fell 75 percent at Emirates and Tim Clark, the airline’s president, said last week that while yield declines had halted it was still a tough year.
Air Arabia and flydubai reported lower full-year profit for 2016, while Etihad has not yet reported its results but has said it is reviewing its business.
Airlines in the Gulf benefited for years from high oil prices that spurred government spending and regional growth. But demand has softened and travel budgets have tightened after more than two years of depressed oil prices, exposure to weaker markets and currency fluctuations.
Emirates and Etihad are both reviewing their workforces, while Emirates has agreed with Airbus to delay the delivery of 12 A380 jets over the next two years.
Both airlines have hundreds of aircraft on order from Airbus and Boeing and neither has signaled further delays to deliveries.
De Juniac told Reuters that airlines across the world need to “manage their assets cleverly.”
“There is a lot of capacity so it explains why the yield is declining and many companies are suffering,” he said, but added that he “would not advise” airlines on how to define their capacity.
The growth of low cost airlines that fly long haul, like Norwegian Air Shuttle, is expected to continue to pressure established transatlantic carriers as these newcomers expand using longer-range single-aisle aircraft to fly between smaller, cheaper local airports.
Growth of low cost, long haul is “starting to accelerate” in Europe and Asia and is likely to eventually develop in other markets such as the Middle East, de Juniac said.
UAE airlines’ profits may decline this year: IATA
UAE airlines’ profits may decline this year: IATA
Bahri profit rises 12% to $647m in 2025 as oil shipping boosts earnings
RIYADH: The National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia, also known as Bahri, posted a 12.07 percent increase in annual profit as stronger tanker earnings and higher global freight rates boosted results.
Net profit attributable to shareholders reached SR2.43 billion ($647.46 million) in 2025, compared with SR2.17 billion a year earlier, according to a filing on Saudi Exchange.
Revenue for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, rose 9.12 percent to SR10.35 billion, compared with SR9.48 billion in 2024, while gross profit increased 14.71 percent to SR3.10 billion.
Highlighting the main reason for the increase in net profit during the current year, the company said: “The increase in gross profit of Bahri Oil BU by SR755 million mainly due to improved operational performance and global shipping rates during the current year compared to the last year.”
It added: “The increase in the company’s share of results of equity-accounted investees by SR134 million during the current year compared to the last year.
However, the gains were partly offset by declines in other areas. Gross profit from the chemicals business unit fell by SR324 million, while the integrated logistics unit recorded a SR37 million decrease.
The company’s operating profit climbed 4.67 percent year on year to SR2.73 billion, reflecting improved operational performance across several business units.
Bahri said the increase in revenue was driven primarily by higher activity in multiple divisions, particularly its oil business unit, where revenue rose by SR1.26 billion due to increased operational activity and higher global shipping rates.
The growth in revenue was partially offset by lower performance in other segments.
Revenue from the chemicals business unit declined by SR396 million, while the dry bulk unit recorded a decrease of SR87 million compared with the previous year.
Bahri also reported a SR138 million decline in other income, mainly due to lower capital gains from vessel sales.
The company recorded SR216 million in gains from vessel sales in the previous year compared with SR6 million in the current year. Higher general and administrative expenses and increased finance costs also weighed on profitability.
Total comprehensive income attributable to shareholders reached SR2.38 billion, up 8.65 percent from SR2.19 billion in the previous year.
Total shareholders’ equity rose 12.07 percent to SR15.27 billion, compared with SR13.63 billion a year earlier, while earnings per share increased to SR2.63 from SR2.35.
Separately, Bahri’s board of directors recommended the distribution of cash dividends totaling SR922.85 million for the 2025 fiscal year, equivalent to SR1 per share.
The proposed dividend represents 10 percent of the share’s par value and will be distributed to shareholders owning 922.85 million eligible shares, subject to approval at the company’s upcoming general assembly meeting. The eligibility and distribution dates will be announced at a later stage.
