Aviation360 MEA

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, unveiled the new Innovation Majlis at the organization’s Dubai headquarters.
The most recent innovations in robotics, hyper-reality, holograms, 3D printers, and other cutting-edge technologies will be on display at the Innovation Majlis.

In order to co-create proof-of-concepts that will help customers, communities, and the aviation industry, it will act as the social space for this.

The majlis will also be driven by collaborations with universities, business leaders, and ecological projects, as well as by the exploration of alternative energy sources.

Sheikh Ahmed said: “The Innovation Majlis, with its latest tools and tech, is designed to empower our employees to explore new horizons, discover innovative solutions, and drive the future of the aviation industry. It will bring our partners, top tech companies and entities together in one space to address key challenges affecting our industry today.”

In its initial phase, the Innovation Majlis will showcase

1. An autonomous mobile manipulator developed by Dubai Future Labs for order deliveries as well as picking and placing objects from shelves, bins and table-tops
2. AI-enabled wearable glasses for AR experiences that transform the way we perceive and interact with other people, products or services
3. Haptic gloves for natural XR interactions that enable touch interaction in virtual reality to feel the weight, vibrations and resistance of virtual objects
4. 3D holographic display with generative AI: elevates the experience of interacting with digital signage by providing advanced conversational capability through natural language processing
5. The next generation of charging devices autonomously from a distance using infrared technology
6. 3D printing solutions that show how next generation printers can handle a greater range of materials to provide an additive manufacturing capability for new areas
7. Optimised videoconferencing featuring an all-in-one device providing advanced sensor and environment optimisation technology for video communications
8. Next generation water filtration showcasing a reverse osmosis and carbon filtration purification system that turns any tap water into mineralised water.

The Innovation Majlis follows the launch of Sara, the world’s first ever check‑in robot assistant, and the first edition of ForsaTEK, an annual event that brings together startup programmes, high-profile tech and industry partners, and key players in the ecosystem.

Emirates Group to fund development initiatives

The Emirates Group and Dubai Future Foundation have signed a significant partnership to launch the Emirates Centre of Excellence for Aviation Robotics.

Emirates has dedicated $200m to finance research and development initiatives aimed at mitigating the environmental impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation.

In recent news, the Emirates Group has released its 2022-23 Annual Report, reporting its most profitable year ever on the back of strong demand across its businesses.

The group announced its annual profit touched Dhs10.9bn ($3bn), a significant turnaround from last year where it made a Dhs3.9bn ($1.1bn) loss.

Group revenue earned was Dhs119.8bn ($32.6bn), marking an increase of 81 per cent with strong customer demand worldwide with almost all travel restrictions removed. The group ended the year with highest-ever cash balance of Dhs42.5bn ($11.6bn).