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

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has reported a robust set of enterprise transactions for the total 12 months 2025, marking what the group described as a defining interval of growth throughout plane leasing, engineering companies and capital markets exercise.

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

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

Over the 12 months, 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.

Throughout the 12 months, DAE Capital accomplished a long-term sale and leaseback transaction with United Airways protecting 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 international locations 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 company also accessed the sukuk market through a $650m five-year benchmark issuance, and was placed on Positive Outlook by KBRA, reflecting improving credit fundamentals.

Commenting on the outcomes, Firoz Tarapore, Chief Govt Officer of DAE, stated: “2025 was one other defining 12 months for DAE during which we additional enhanced our international franchise and strengthened our place as a number one aviation companies company.

“DAE Capital ended the 12 months with 35 per cent fleet development and now ranks throughout the high 5 international lessors by fleet rely. DAE Engineering continues to be the main impartial airframe MRO within the area.”