The UAE is establishing itself as a global center for aircraft maintenance and repair
Abu Dhabi, 1st March / WAM / The UAE has continued to strengthen its position as a leading regional and global center in the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector, benefiting from its position as a major aviation market and its embrace of large and growing fleets managed by national carriers with a wide international presence.
The UAE is one of the largest aviation markets in the region, in light of the pivotal role played by major national companies such as Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways, Flydubai and Air Arabia, which collectively manage hundreds of modern aircraft and serve tens of millions of passengers annually, which generates a sustainable and growing demand for maintenance, repair and modernization services within the country.
The UAE’s position is not limited to its local and regional dimension in the world of aircraft maintenance, repair and renewal, but rather it has established its position as an integrated global destination for this industry, as it attracts airlines and service providers from different continents, and exports its technical and engineering services to global markets.
The year 2025 witnessed notable developments that strengthened the country’s position in this sector. Specialized areas such as Dubai South and the Mohammed bin Rashid Aviation Project have attracted regional and international companies specialized in maintenance services, technical support and aircraft equipment, with an expansion in the establishment of modern hangars and heavy maintenance facilities.
During 2025, the Mohammed bin Rashid Aviation Project signed strategic agreements with an elite group of international companies, including the Avia Solutions Group, the largest global provider of aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance services, Atheron Aerospace, UUDS, Tariq Al Futtaim Group, and Al Burj Holding. The year also witnessed the opening of new facilities for companies such as Satis, Team Aerospace, and RH Aero, in addition to the announcement of GE Aerospace. About laying the foundation stone for a facility dedicated to aircraft maintenance and technical support services within the project.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Aviation Project announced the launch of new facilities, most notably the “Aircraft Maintenance Services Complex” and the “Private Aviation Boulevard,” a destination that aims to attract the most prominent international airlines and luxury retail brands.
According to a report issued by BlueWeave Consulting, the value of the aircraft maintenance and repair market in the UAE reached about $3.06 billion in 2025, with expectations of a compound annual growth of approximately 5.09% to reach about $4.33 billion by 2032, driven by fleet expansion and increased commercial aviation traffic.
A report issued by Grand View Research indicated that the UAE acquired about 2.8% of the revenues of the global aircraft maintenance and repair market in 2024, with expectations of increasing its regional share in the coming years.
The size of the global market for aircraft maintenance, repair and refurbishment is estimated at approximately $90 billion, according to many specialized researches, with expectations of continued growth, driven by rising demand for air travel and the modernization of commercial fleets.
Experts and officials in the sector confirmed that the UAE has become a major global hub for the aircraft maintenance, repair and renewal industry.
Kashish Kohli, CFO and Senior Vice President of Finance at Sanad Group, told WAM that the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul sector is witnessing continuous growth in the UAE, supported by a healthy aviation market and major airlines that are generating an increasing demand for maintenance services.
He added that more than 95% of the company’s revenues come from exports, which reflects the global nature of the sector in the country, explaining that Sanad’s work is focused on aircraft engine maintenance, where the engines are received, maintained, tested, and then returned to customers around the world.
He stressed that the UAE has become a global aviation hub, not just a regional one, and that the MRO sector forms an essential part of this system, in light of government support, advanced infrastructure, and the strategic location that places the country at the heart of the global aviation network.
For his part, Haluk Acar, CEO of TIM Aerospace, told WAM that the company is moving steadily towards starting its operational operations in the country, stressing that its new maintenance facility in Dubai South at Al Maktoum International Airport represents a qualitative addition to the MRO sector at the regional and global levels.
He pointed out that the choice of the Emirates came based on its unique strategic location as a global center for investment and aviation, which allows serving the markets of Asia, Europe and the Far East with high efficiency, stressing that the global shortage of maintenance capacities opens great opportunities for new facilities in pivotal locations such as the Emirates.
He explained that the facility was designed primarily to serve wide-body aircraft, and can accommodate up to 12 narrow-body aircraft at the same time or five Boeing 777-300 aircraft, which reflects its large operational capacity.
He added that the company is close to completing the final stage related to obtaining the building completion certificate from the competent authorities, and that it will move immediately after obtaining the certificate to the hangar building in preparation for the start of operations.
He stated that the company has completed submitting applications for accreditation, targeting full operation within its accreditation by the fall of 2026, with partial operation of the barn during the transitional period.
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