Dubai Aerospace Enterprise closes $2bn acquisition as fleet growth lifts it into top five global lessors

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has reported a strong set of business transactions for the full year 2025, marking what the group described as a defining period of expansion across aircraft leasing, engineering services and capital markets activity.

The update highlights significant fleet growth, large-scale acquisitions and continued access to global financing markets.

DAE Capital closed 2025 after completing a $2bn acquisition of Nordic Aviation Capital, strengthening its position in the global aircraft leasing market.

Over the year, the business acquired 280 aircraft, comprising 261 owned and 19 managed, while selling 112 aircraft (95 owned and 17 managed).

The platform also signed 273 lease agreements, extensions and amendments, including 227 owned and 46 managed aircraft.

During the year, DAE Capital completed a long-term sale and leaseback transaction with United Airlines covering 10 Boeing 737-9 aircraft, and placed 10 Boeing 737-8 aircraft on long-term lease with AJet.

In addition, the company priced a $610m two-tranche aircraft asset-backed securities transaction for a DAE-managed asset client.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise growth

DAE Engineering also delivered strong operational growth in 2025. The division booked more than 1.8m man hours, carried out over 320 aircraft checks, and served more than 60 airline customers from over 30 countries across five continents.

Capacity was expanded with the inauguration of a new five-bay hangar, increasing engineering capacity by 30 per cent.

At group level, DAE raised $3.9bn in debt financing with a weighted average maturity of 5.3 years, reinforcing its balance 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 results, Firoz Tarapore, Chief Executive Officer of DAE, said: “2025 was another defining year for DAE in which we further enhanced our global franchise and strengthened our position as a leading aviation services corporation.

“DAE Capital ended the year with 35 per cent fleet growth and now ranks within the top five global lessors by fleet count. DAE Engineering continues to be the leading independent airframe MRO in the region.”