Ahead of the World Cargo Symposium, host airline Emirates SkyCargo is preparing to showcase its expanding capabilities and commitment to driving efficiency, innovation and connectivity across the air cargo industry.
“The World Cargo Symposium is the largest and most prestigious annual event in air cargo, and we are thrilled that IATA has chosen to host this year’s symposium in Dubai,” Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo at Emirates SkyCargo, stated.
“With its strategic location and world-class logistics infrastructure, Dubai is a natural choice for the 2025 IATA World Cargo Symposium. The event will serve as a key platform to shape the future of air cargo and align on the best strategies for growth.
“The themes of digitalisation, sustainability, and safety and security are highly relevant to both our industry and home base. Dubai exemplifies the success that can be achieved through commerce, innovation, tourism, technology, and, of course, logistics. Often referred to as a melting pot of cultures, the city’s diversity plays a crucial role in the city’s success.
“We look forward to engaging in many fruitful conversations about the future of our industry, set against the backdrop of our headquarters.”
Vision for the carrier
Having worked across diverse markets, Abbas has seen firsthand how innovation and customer-centricity can transform industries.
“My journey with Emirates has taught me the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and a long-term vision,” Abbas said. “I plan to leverage these experiences to create growth opportunities, inspire our teams to break barriers, and ensure that Emirates SkyCargo continues to lead with innovation, connecting communities and economies in meaningful ways.”
The immediate priorities for the airline are centred on modernising the freighter fleet and offering the fastest and most reliable connections across key global air cargo trade lanes via Dubai. To achieve this, Abbas is focused on embracing cutting-edge technology, strengthening customer partnerships, and driving sustainable growth. Through these efforts, his goal is to redefine the future of air cargo and contribute to the prosperity of the global economy.
“We’ve made significant progress in areas such as digital innovation and emerging technologies,” he explained. “Digital innovation is transforming the industry, and we have developed tools which put convenience and control directly in the hands of our customers.
This isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a reimagination of air cargo logistics. In terms of emerging technologies, Emirates SkyCargo is embracing innovations such as real-time tracking, predictive analytics, and enhanced transparency. Automation is addressing labour shortages, while AI is redefining route planning and optimising fleet maintenance.
“Our presence on global platforms such as WebCargo, cargo.one, and CargoAi ensures that we are accessible where our customers need us most, enabling bookings for even specialty products like pharmaceuticals. The results speak for themselves—over 70 percent of our bookings are now digital, boosting productivity, reducing manual workloads, and allowing our teams to focus on complex shipments.”
Driving transformation
Emirates SkyCargo’s plans for the next five to seven years are set to be an evolution for the airline. With increasing demand for e-commerce, perishables, and pharmaceuticals, it is key to prepare for the future through fleet developments, embracing sustainability and leveraging digital innovation.
“By the end of 2026, we will have expanded our fleet to 21 Boeing 777 freighters. The Boeing 777s are the epitome of efficiency and sustainability, perfectly aligned with our long-term vision to serve as the backbone of global supply chains. This expansion will also help solidify Dubai’s position as a leading air cargo hub,” Abbas explained.
“As a combination airline, Emirates SkyCargo benefits from the perfect mix of dedicated freighters and a wide-body passenger fleet. The dedicated freighters complement our passenger network by feeding into routes around the world, and we also operate routes where both freighters and passenger flights run in parallel, depending on demand. Additionally, we have freighter-only routes where passenger aircraft aren’t available.
“For cargo shipments coming from anywhere in the world, Emirates is one of the best options, offering the fastest and most reliable connections through Dubai to their final destination.”
Developments in Dubai
Dubai and the UAE have built a strong foundation as a global air cargo hub, leveraging their geographic advantage, modern infrastructure, progressive policies, and robust international diplomatic relations to attract businesses with a growth-oriented, future-ready mindset. Additionally, the Dubai government’s 2030 initiative lays out a bold plan to double its foreign trade by capitalising on multimodal transportation solutions.
Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is set to process 12 million tonnes of cargo annually, supporting the growth of the nearby logistics district, which is planned to become an international hub for global cargo and shipping companies.
“This is part of Dubai’s master plan to establish itself as the preeminent multimodal cargo hub, connecting air, sea, and land transportation. With a strategic geographic location at the centre of the world, the UAE serves as a natural midpoint between East and West, allowing it to reach two-thirds of the world’s population within an eight-hour flight,” Abbas declared.
“As we expand our fleet, the additional freighters will significantly increase our capacity—essentially doubling it. To accommodate this growth, we need a larger facility and airport infrastructure.
“Moreover, combining our freighter fleet with passenger capacity at the new airport will provide unmatched flexibility, allowing us to move cargo and goods seamlessly and efficiently across the globe. This move will be key to ensuring that we remain at the forefront of the air cargo industry.”
