The engine repair centre developed in Al Ain marks a defining moment for the UAE aviation sector. Sanad, backed by Mubadala Investment Company, announced an AED480 million commitment to build a new Repair Centre of Excellence. The facility targets a position among the top five engine overhaul providers across the global MRO industry. Your understanding of this investment starts with knowing how big the demand shift truly is.
Global engine volumes keep rising as airlines expand fleets and retire older aircraft faster. Sanad already served over 80 customers worldwide before this new facility entered the plan. In 2025 alone, the company added 24 new airline customers to its growing international network. Engine inductions are forecast to rise from 230 annually in 2025 to over 500 by 2035. That doubling of volume makes in-house repair capability a financial and operational priority for the firm.
Engine Repair Centre Developed in Al Ain Anchors Abu Dhabi Aerospace Strategy
The 17,600 square metre facility will sit inside Al Ain Aerospace Park and open fully by 2030. Sanad will consolidate all its repair work into one integrated platform for greater speed. The hub will cover five major engine types: Trent 700, V2500, LEAP, GEnx, and GTF. Repair volumes are expected to reach 65,000 parts per year once the site reaches full output. In 2025, the company inspected 43,000 parts and completed engine overhaul work on 19,000 components. That growth gap shows exactly why this new investment is necessary for Sanad to scale.
Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Sanad, put the strategy clearly. He said: “Repairs are increasingly becoming the defining factor in engine MRO.” He added that building capabilities in-house is critical to improving turnaround times and creating in-country value. As I see it, this statement signals a deliberate shift away from relying on third-party repair providers. Bringing key functions under one roof reduces cost exposure and strengthens delivery reliability for airline clients.
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Sanad Targets Top Five MRO Ranking Through Strategic Al Ain Investment
The engine repair centre developed in Al Ain will also serve other MRO providers needing specialist support. This opens a second revenue stream beyond direct airline contracts and adds commercial flexibility. No other independent MRO in the MENA region currently offers repair capabilities at this scale. Sanad will hold a unique market position once the facility reaches full operational status in 2030. That position strengthens the broader Abu Dhabi aerospace push to become a recognised global aviation hub.
Mubadala’s support gives Sanad the financial backing to commit to long-term infrastructure at this level. The greenfield design means the facility starts fresh with workflows built for efficiency from day one. Workers will not face the delays common in retrofitted or repurposed industrial buildings. Operational speed and precision matter greatly in MRO, where aircraft downtime carries serious financial consequences for airlines.
The facility will also support the UAE’s wider economic agenda by localising high-value aerospace skills. More than 350 jobs will come from this project, with Emirati nationals prioritised across technical and operational roles. This aligns directly with national workforce development goals and the UAE’s broader diversification strategy.
The Centre Sets a New Regional Standard
The engine repair centre developed in Al Ain sends a clear signal to the global MRO community. Sanad now competes not just regionally but on a world stage with the largest engine service providers. The company’s contracted backlog already reached AED38 billion, covering more than 1,000 shop visits over three decades. That backlog confirms sustained demand and gives investors confidence in the long-term revenue outlook. You can read this investment as both a capacity decision and a competitive statement.
The Abu Dhabi aerospace sector gains a significant anchor asset through this single project. Sanad’s engine overhaul expertise, combined with the new facility’s scale, creates a compelling case for airline operators worldwide. Airlines choosing MRO partners weigh cost, turnaround speed, and platform coverage above almost everything else. This facility addresses all three of those factors in one integrated location. The engine repair centre developed in Al Ain now stands as the clearest proof of the UAE’s aerospace ambitions.