Group charter flights from the UAE
One aircraft for the whole group: a company offsite, an incentive trip, a wedding party or a tour. UAE operators fly business jets for up to 14, airliner-size VIP jets for 19 to 58, and seven airports have runways of 3,200 m or more.
- Up to 14
- Large business jet
- 19
- ACJ319 or Lineage 1000
- 19 to 58
- Boeing Business Jet
- Priced
- Per aircraft
What a group charter is
You hire the whole aircraft for your group and set the route and timing. Up to about 14 people fit a large business jet. Between 19 and 58 fit one of the VIP airliners flown by UAE operators, such as Royal Jet's Boeing Business Jets in Abu Dhabi or Emirates Executive's ACJ319 in Dubai. Every flight is operated by a company holding a GCAA Air Operator Certificate.
The UAE has one of the largest fleets of airliner-size VIP jets anywhere. Royal Jet alone flies ten Boeing Business Jets from Abu Dhabi, in layouts of 19 to 58 seats.
Group charter is private jet hire scaled up: one customer, one aircraft, your schedule. The headcount and the bags decide the aircraft. Up to about 14, a heavy jet such as the Legacy 600 or Global 6000 keeps everyone in one cabin. Above that, VIP airliners take over.
Royal Jet's fleet guide lists its Boeing Business Jets in layouts from 19 to 52 seats, and the licence data puts the range at 19 to 58. Emirates Executive's ACJ319 has 19 seats in ten private suites, with room for about 50 to 60 standard suitcases.
For groups too large for a VIP cabin, an airliner in airline seating is needed. None of the operators on our UAE list fly one, so we source the aircraft from an airline and name the operator on your quote before you sign.
Sources:GCAA (UAE): air operator certificate holders and fleets, compiled by Altivo from the EASA and UK CAA third-country operator lists (read 19 October 2026)Royal Jet: fleet guide, Boeing Business Jet and Global 5000 layouts (December 2022, PDF)Airbus Corporate Jets: ACJ319 A6-CJE, Emirates Executive (read 19 October 2026)GCAA: aviation laws in the UAE, Civil Aviation Law of 1991 and GCAA Law of 1996 (read 19 October 2026)
Which aircraft for your group
| Group size | Aircraft on the UAE list | Who flies it |
|---|---|---|
| 8 to 12 | Bombardier Challenger 605 (8 to 12 seats) | Ten aircraft across four operators, including Gulf Wings and ASM Air |
| 10 to 14 | Legacy 600 (13 to 14), Global 6000 (10 to 14), Gulfstream G450 (14) | Empire Aviation Group, Falcon Aviation Services, DC Aviation Al-Futtaim |
| 19 | Airbus ACJ319 or Embraer Lineage 1000 | Emirates Executive (Dubai), Falcon Aviation Services (Abu Dhabi) |
| 19 to 58 | Boeing Business Jet, depending on layout | Royal Jet (Abu Dhabi), ten aircraft |
| Larger groups | Airliner in airline seating | Sourced from an airline and named on your quote |
Seat ranges are from the licence data behind our operator pages and vary by cabin layout. Royal Jet's own fleet guide lists its BBJ layouts as 19 to 52 seats.
Sources:GCAA (UAE): air operator certificate holders and fleets, compiled by Altivo from the EASA and UK CAA third-country operator lists (read 19 October 2026)Royal Jet: fleet guide, Boeing Business Jet and Global 5000 layouts (December 2022, PDF)Airbus Corporate Jets: ACJ319 A6-CJE, Emirates Executive (read 19 October 2026)
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
The rules that apply to a UAE group charter
- The GCAA Law of 1996 makes the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) the authority that carries out the Civil Aviation Law, issued on 10 June 1991, which covers air transport in general.
- Every operator on this page holds an Air Operator Certificate and is on our list of GCAA certificate holders. The operator flying your group is named on your quote.
- UAE rules on air carriage, including the carrier's liability for delay and baggage, sit in the Commercial Transactions Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022), in force since 2 January 2023.
- On international journeys, the Montreal Convention of 1999 sets the carrier's liability limits for delay and baggage.
- Your charter agreement sets the terms for changes, cancellation and delay for the whole aircraft, so read it before you sign.
Sources:GCAA: aviation laws in the UAE, Civil Aviation Law of 1991 and GCAA Law of 1996 (read 19 October 2026)GCAA (UAE): air operator certificate holders and fleets, compiled by Altivo from the EASA and UK CAA third-country operator lists (read 19 October 2026)Gulf News: UAE flight disrupted? Compensation you are legally entitled to (Commercial Transactions Law and Montreal Convention)
UAE airports for large aircraft
| Airport | Runway | Notes for group flights |
|---|---|---|
| Al Maktoum, Dubai World Central (OMDW) | 4,500 m | Open 24 hours. Slots required but usually easy to get. Private terminals run by DC Aviation Al-Futtaim, Jetex and ExecuJet |
| Dubai International (OMDB) | 4,447 m | Open 24 hours. Slots for every movement and restricted parking: wide-bodied aircraft are sometimes limited to drop and go |
| Zayed International, Abu Dhabi (OMAA) | 4,106 m | Open 24 hours. No slots for general aviation. Royal Jet runs the FBO |
| Al Bateen Executive, Abu Dhabi (OMAD) | 3,202 m | Open 24 hours. No airport slots. Runway widened for wide-body aircraft in 2022. No airline traffic since 2014 |
| Sharjah (OMSJ) | 4,060 m | Open 24 hours. No slots required |
| Ras Al Khaimah (OMRK) | 3,760 m | Open 24 hours. No slots required. Handling not mandatory |
| Fujairah (OMFJ) | 3,750 m | Open 24 hours. No slots required |
Handling is mandatory at most of these airports, and the operator appoints the handler when the trip is confirmed.
Sources:AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMDW (runway, hours, slots, FBOs)AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMDB (runway, slots, parking)AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMAA (runway, hours, slots)Royal Jet: fleet guide, Boeing Business Jet and Global 5000 layouts (December 2022, PDF)AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMAD (runway, hours, slots)Al Bateen Executive Airport: about us, 3.2 km runway widened and resurfaced for wide-body aircraft in 2022 (read 19 October 2026)Wikipedia: Al Bateen Executive Airport (no airline traffic since 2014)AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMSJ (runway, hours, slots)AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMRK (runway, hours, slots)AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMFJ (runway, hours, slots)
How a group charter is priced
- You pay for the whole aircraft, not per seat. Divide the price by the headcount to compare it with airline fares.
- Large business jets charter at about AED 43,770 to AED 68,110 per flight hour, before airport, handling and parking charges.
- VIP airliners such as the Boeing Business Jet and the ACJ319 are quoted per trip for the whole aircraft.
- A one-way trip may include the cost of the aircraft flying back empty. A return with a few days on the ground can cost less than two one-ways.
How to book a group charter
- 01Share the trip
Dates, route, headcount, bags and any equipment, such as event staging or sports kit.
- 02Compare operators
We check which GCAA-certified operators have the right aircraft free and confirm slots, parking and handling.
- 03Sign and pay
You sign a charter agreement for the whole aircraft, with the operator named, and pay before departure.
Large aircraft on the UAE charter list
From 14-seat business jets to airliner-size VIP cabins.
UAE operators of large aircraft
GCAA certificate holders flying airliner-size VIP jets.
Abu Dhabi. Ten Boeing Business Jets and two Global 5000s
Dubai. Airbus ACJ319 with 19 seats
Abu Dhabi. Lineage 1000, Global 6000, Legacy 600 and more
Dubai. Global 7500, Global 6000 and Challenger 605
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistHow many people fit on a private jet in the UAE?+
Large business jets such as the Legacy 600 and Global 6000 seat up to about 14. The ACJ319 and Lineage 1000 seat 19, and Royal Jet's Boeing Business Jets seat 19 to 58 depending on layout.
How is a group charter priced?+
For the whole aircraft. Large business jets charter at about AED 43,770 to AED 68,110 per flight hour, before airport and handling charges. VIP airliners are quoted per trip.
Which airport is best for a large group in Dubai?+
Al Maktoum at Dubai World Central has a 4,500 m runway, slots that are usually easy to get and no parking limits found at Dubai International, where wide-bodied aircraft are sometimes limited to drop and go.
Who regulates charter flights in the UAE?+
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The operator flying your group holds an Air Operator Certificate, and we name it on your quote.
Can we fly one way?+
Yes, though the price may include the aircraft flying back empty.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on 19 October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.GCAA (UAE): air operator certificate holders and fleets, compiled by Altivo from the EASA and UK CAA third-country operator lists (read 19 October 2026)
- 2.Royal Jet: fleet guide, Boeing Business Jet and Global 5000 layouts (December 2022, PDF)
- 3.Airbus Corporate Jets: ACJ319 A6-CJE, Emirates Executive (read 19 October 2026)
- 4.GCAA: aviation laws in the UAE, Civil Aviation Law of 1991 and GCAA Law of 1996 (read 19 October 2026)
- 5.Gulf News: UAE flight disrupted? Compensation you are legally entitled to (Commercial Transactions Law and Montreal Convention)
- 6.AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMDW (runway, hours, slots, FBOs)
- 7.AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMDB (runway, slots, parking)
- 8.AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMAA (runway, hours, slots)
- 9.AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMAD (runway, hours, slots)
- 10.Al Bateen Executive Airport: about us, 3.2 km runway widened and resurfaced for wide-body aircraft in 2022 (read 19 October 2026)
- 11.Wikipedia: Al Bateen Executive Airport (no airline traffic since 2014)
- 12.AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMSJ (runway, hours, slots)
- 13.AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMRK (runway, hours, slots)
- 14.AC-U-KWIK airport record, OMFJ (runway, hours, slots)
- 15.AIN, 2 March 2026: Gulf business aviation traffic paralysed by Iran conflict
- 16.Gulf Business, 17 March 2026: UAE airspace returns to normal after precautionary restrictions lifted
Move the whole group together.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.