Air Arabia
United Arab Emirates · ARABIA · Active
Airline Identity
History
Air Arabia was established by Amiri decree in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, in February 2003 and began flying in October 2003, becoming the Middle East's first low-cost carrier. It turned a profit in its first year of operation and completed a partial IPO in 2007, then expanded its model through joint-venture sister airlines in Morocco (2009), Egypt (2010), Jordan, Pakistan (2021), and, for a period, Armenia.
Current Operations
Air Arabia operates an all-Airbus A320-family fleet from its main base at Sharjah International Airport, with additional UAE bases at Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, alongside its partner carriers Air Arabia Egypt (Alexandria) and Air Arabia Maroc (Casablanca) that extend the group's reach across North Africa. The group serves roughly 100–120 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and Europe, has a large order book of A320neo/A321neo/A321XLR aircraft for continued fleet renewal, and is not aligned with any of the three major global alliances, operating as an independent low-cost group.
Last verified 2026-09-02· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.