Firoz Tarapore is the Chief Executive of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.

As chief of DEA, among the world's five biggest aircraft-leasing companies, Tarapore has seen firsthand how the aviation sector, and alongside it tourism, has evolved in the UAE over the past decade or so.

He spoke to The National's Chris Nelson at his office in Dubai, touching on what has driven the growth of the country's aviation sector and looking ahead to how to adapt to technological changes.

Music for this episode: Chris Zabriskie