Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Sanad Group, the global aerospace engineering and asset management leader wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company PJSC (Mubadala), has reported record financial and operational results for 2025, delivering Dh7 billion ($1.9 billion) in revenue, a 41 percent increase from 2024.
The results mark the group’s second consecutive year of record performance and reflect the continued execution of its long-term strategy to build an integrated global aerospace platform from Abu Dhabi, combining aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and asset management capabilities enabled by next-generation aerospace infrastructure, serving the global aviation market.
The company’s operational excellence and continued industry recognition, including being named ‘MRO of the Year’ at the Aviation Business Awards during the Dubai Airshow, underscore the strength of its continued evolution and transformation.
Chairman of the Sanad Group, Amer Siddiqui, said, “Sanad’s 2025 performance underscores the strength of our long-term strategy and the resilience of our business model. We are not simply growing; we are building durable and globally resilient infrastructure from Abu Dhabi to service the global aviation market. Our continued expansion reinforces the emirate’s position as a critical player in the global aviation value chain.”
Managing Director and CEO of the Sanad Group, Mansoor Janahi, said, “Delivering Dh7 billion in revenue reflects the confidence of our Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and more than 80 customers worldwide, at a time when global engine MRO capacity remains structurally constrained. In 2025, we scaled with discipline. We strengthened our lifecycle platforms, secured long-term contracts, and continued investing in infrastructure and talent to build durable capacity from Abu Dhabi. Sanad today operates as an integrated global MRO and asset management platform positioned not only to meet demand, but to shape the future of the aviation industry.”
The company continued scaling its global engine MRO platform in 2025, recording 230 engine inductions, up from 161 in 2024, as sustained demand strengthened across its Trent 700, V2500, LEAP, and GEnx engine programmes.
The increase reflects rising global demand for engine maintenance services as airlines extend the life of existing fleets and engine MRO capacity continues to grow globally and in the Middle East region.
To support this growth, the company invested Dh100 million to expand capacity, enhance shop-floor operations, and strengthen in-house repair capabilities, enabling the company to scale operations while maintaining service reliability for its growing international customer base.
Sanad Group’s expanding capabilities translated into strong commercial momentum, as the company continued to grow its global customer base and contracted pipeline.
During the year, the company onboarded 24 new customers, including AirAsia and Royal Jordanian, further expanding its footprint across Asia and the Middle East region, reflecting sustained international demand for its engine MRO services.
As a result, Sanad Group’s contracted backlog reached Dh38 billion, providing long-term revenue visibility over the next three decades and underscoring the scale and durability of its global MRO platform.
To accommodate this growth, the company also expanded its operational footprint through a strategic partnership with AMMROC, securing additional space to support increasing engine inductions and further scale its MRO operations.
By year-end, more than 80 airlines, operators, and lessors worldwide relied on Sanad’s services, reinforcing its position as a trusted independent global engine MRO partner and positioning the company for continued output growth into 2026 as capacity expansion initiatives progress.
Alongside scaling its MRO operations, Sanad Group signed and made significant progress on the development of its next-generation GTF engine MRO centre in Al Ain in 2025, marking a major step forward in expanding Abu Dhabi’s aerospace ecosystem.
In 2025, it signed a long-term Musataha agreement with Abu Dhabi Airports, securing two strategic plots within Al Ain Aerospace Park to house the GTF MRO centre, including twin test cells and future expansion facilities, establishing the foundation for this landmark project.
Building on this, the company also awarded the full turnkey test cell project to Safran Test Cells, progressing the development of critical testing infrastructure.
The facility will feature twin 12×12 test cells, set to become the largest of its kind across South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, leading civil engine testing capability, with capacity to support over 500 engine tests annually.
Developed in partnership with Pratt & Whitney, the facility will provide advanced maintenance services for the GTF engine family, which powers a significant share of the world’s modern narrow-body aircraft fleet.
Once operational, the centre will expand the UAE’s aerospace industrial capabilities while creating high-value technical jobs and strengthening the country’s role within the global aviation supply chain.
The project represents one of the most significant aerospace infrastructure investments in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa (SAMEA) region and reflects Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision to build a globally competitive aerospace manufacturing and services ecosystem.
In line with its business strategy to complementing its MRO expansion, Sanad Group continued strengthening its integrated business model through the deployment of its Asset Management strategy, integrating engine ownership, component monetisation, and MRO services into a unified platform.
During 2025, the division delivered strong results through the sale of approximately 7,000 components across 46 global locations, earning the Deal of the Year – MEA award at the Aviation 100 Awards.
Capital deployment under the strategy progressed steadily during the year, with 10 engines acquired and an active pipeline of approximately 20 additional engines planned for acquisition in 2026.
To date, Dh92 million ($25 million) has been deployed as part of a broader Dh367 million ($100 million) investment commitment to expand the company’s engine portfolio and strengthen its asset management platform across the global aviation market.
Supporting this growth, the group continued investing its advanced infrastructure and technical capabilities. In 2025, it invested over Dh100 million to expand its MRO infrastructure, advanced tooling, and repair capabilities.
The group also expanded its ability to provide full maintenance, repair, overhaul and testing services for CFM LEAP engines, supporting a growing base of international airlines operating one of the world’s most in-demand narrow-body engine families.
The expansion will include enhancements to infrastructure and the creation of 140 new specialised jobs.
In parallel, the company continued strengthening its workforce, with total headcount reaching 855 employees as 306 new employees joined in 2025, representing a 42 percent increase.
The group also advanced its Emiratisation agenda, achieving 36 per cent overall Emiratisation, up from 23.1 percent in 2022, reflecting its commitment to developing national talent and supporting the UAE’s long-term human capital development objectives.
This investment in talent is supported by a structured pipeline of technical and leadership development programmes.
In 2025, the company onboarded 30 Emirati apprentices and advanced leadership and technical development programmes.
This includes the completion of the first Rolls-Royce technical training cohort at Rolls-Royce’s global headquarters in Derby, United Kingdom, the graduation of the second Sanad Future Leaders Programme delivered in partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and the launch of the third leadership cohort in partnership with Embry-Riddle, building on the programme’s continued success.
As a result, the Sanad Group is developing a strong bench of Emirati professionals progressing into senior technical and administrative roles, strengthening its leadership pipeline and supporting the UAE’s ambition to build a globally competitive, future-ready aerospace workforce.
Sanad Group was also awarded dual ISO certifications, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 30414:2018, reinforcing its commitment to the highest international standards in quality management and human capital transparency.
The certifications reflect its continued focus on operational excellence, governance, and the development of a high-performing workforce aligned with global best practices.
The group’s sustained growth continues to support Abu Dhabi’s long-term industrial strategy, reinforcing the emirate’s role as a global aerospace engineering and MRO hub.
With expanding global demand for engine maintenance, continued infrastructure investment and deepening partnerships with leading engine OEMs and global airlines, the company has entered 2026 positioned for sustainable long-term growth.
Looking ahead, the group will focus on further capability development, workforce upskilling, and Emiratisation, while continuing to deploy capital strategically across its engine MRO and asset management businesses.
As global demand for engine maintenance continues to grow globally, Sanad Group remains committed to expanding its capabilities, strengthening international partnerships, and advancing Abu Dhabi’s position at the centre of the global aviation value chain.
