Sanad, part of Mubadala Investment Company, has announced the establishment of an AED 480 million ($130 million) aircraft engine Repair Center of Excellence (CoE) in the Al Ain Region to expand its global maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities.
The announcement was made during Make it in the Emirates 2026, reflecting the company’s long-term strategy to capture growth opportunities in the global engine MRO sector and reinforce its position as an international service provider in the industry.
The greenfield facility is designed to strengthen Sanad’s advanced engine repair capabilities and support its objective of becoming the world’s fifth-largest engine MRO provider.
It will serve as a key pillar in the company’s expansion strategy amid rising global demand for efficient and high-performance aviation maintenance services.
Sanad’s growth has been driven by strong global demand and an expanding customer base, which now exceeds 80 airlines worldwide.
In 2025 alone, the company added 24 new airline customers and expanded its technical capabilities across multiple engine platforms. Engine inductions are projected to more than double, rising from 230 in 2025 to over 500 annually by 2035.
The MRO sector is undergoing a structural transformation, with engine repair increasingly becoming a critical factor in turnaround times, cost efficiency, and operational reliability.
In response, the new Repair Centre of Excellence will consolidate advanced repair operations into a single integrated platform, enhancing efficiency and scalability.
Once fully operational by 2030, the approximately 17,600-square-meter facility will support all major engine platforms, including Trent 700, V2500, LEAP, GEnx, and GTF. It is expected to significantly expand Sanad’s repair capacity, increasing annual output to around 65,000 parts.
The facility will also enable in-house repair capabilities, reducing turnaround times, improving operational efficiency, and creating additional value across the MRO supply chain. It will allow Sanad to serve both airline customers and third-party MRO providers requiring specialized engine repair solutions.
Mansoor Janahi Managing Director & Group CEO Sanad
“Repairs are increasingly becoming the defining factor in engine MRO. Building these capabilities in-house is critical to how we scale, improve turnaround times, create in-country value, and deliver greater value to our customers. The Repair Centre of Excellence represents a decisive step in strengthening our global competitiveness and advancing our ambition to become a leading MRO provider worldwide.”
The development is expected to generate more than 350 skilled jobs, with a strong emphasis on Emirati talent development, in line with the UAE’s broader economic diversification and localization strategy.
It also supports efforts to strengthen the country’s aerospace ecosystem and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a global aviation hub.
