Dubai Aerospace Enterprise closes $2bn acquisition as fleet development lifts it into high 5 world lessors

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has reported a powerful set of enterprise transactions for the complete yr 2025, marking what the group described as a defining interval of enlargement throughout plane leasing, engineering companies and capital markets exercise.

The replace highlights important fleet development, large-scale acquisitions and continued entry to world financing markets.

DAE Capital closed 2025 after finishing a $2bn acquisition of Nordic Aviation Capital, strengthening its place within the world plane leasing market.

Over the yr, the enterprise acquired 280 plane, comprising 261 owned and 19 managed, whereas promoting 112 plane (95 owned and 17 managed).

The platform additionally signed 273 lease agreements, extensions and amendments, together with 227 owned and 46 managed plane.

Through the yr, DAE Capital accomplished a long-term sale and leaseback transaction with United Airways masking 10 Boeing 737-9 plane, and positioned 10 Boeing 737-8 plane on long-term lease with AJet.

As well as, the corporate priced a $610m two-tranche plane asset-backed securities transaction for a DAE-managed asset consumer.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise development

DAE Engineering additionally delivered robust operational development in 2025. The division booked greater than 1.8m man hours, carried out over 320 plane checks, and served greater than 60 airline prospects from over 30 nations throughout 5 continents.

Capability was expanded with the inauguration of a brand new five-bay hangar, growing engineering capability by 30 per cent.

At group stage, DAE raised $3.9bn in debt financing with a weighted common maturity of 5.3 years, reinforcing its steadiness sheet and funding flexibility.

The corporate additionally accessed the sukuk market via a $650m five-year benchmark issuance, and was positioned on Constructive Outlook by KBRA, reflecting bettering credit score fundamentals.

Commenting on the outcomes, Firoz Tarapore, Chief Govt Officer of DAE, mentioned: “2025 was one other defining yr for DAE wherein we additional enhanced our world franchise and strengthened our place as a number one aviation companies company.

“DAE Capital ended the yr with 35 per cent fleet development and now ranks throughout the high 5 world lessors by fleet depend. DAE Engineering continues to be the main impartial airframe MRO within the area.”