Al ain: Sanad, part of Mubadala Investment Company, has announced the establishment of an AED480 million ($130 million) aircraft engine Repair Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the Al Ain Region. This strategic investment aims to capture the next phase of global engine Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) growth, propelling Sanad towards becoming the fifth largest engine MRO provider in the world.
According to Emirates News Agency, the greenfield facility, announced at Make it in the Emirates 2026, marks a significant step in Sanad's evolution, scaling its capabilities to meet growing global demand. This move is expected to enhance Sanad's service offerings to regional and global operators with cutting-edge repair capabilities.
Sanad's expansion is driven by sustained demand and deepening global partnerships, serving over 80 customers worldwide. In 2025 alone, Sanad added 24 airline customers and expanded its capabilities across mature and next-generation engine platforms. Engine volumes are projected to more than double over the next decade, increasing from 230 inductions in 2025 to over 500 annually by 2035.
This expansion is timely as the MRO market undergoes a structural shift. With growing fleets and newer engine technologies, repairs are becoming crucial for turnaround times, cost, and operational performance. Sanad's Repair Centre of Excellence is a strategic response, supporting its long-term expansion plans and capability development.
In 2025, Sanad inspected over 43,000 parts and repaired more than 19,000 components, supporting 230 engines across five engine platforms. The new facility is expected to significantly expand these capabilities, with projected volumes reaching 65,000 parts repaired annually once fully operational.
By 2030, the approximately 17,600sqm facility will consolidate these repair capabilities within a single, integrated platform, covering all major engine platforms, including Trent 700, V2500, LEAP, GEnx, and GTF. This purpose-built facility will enable efficient and streamlined operations, improving turnaround times and expanding capacity.
The Repair CoE will position Sanad to capture greater value within the MRO supply chain, creating new revenue streams by serving both airline customers and other MRO providers requiring specialised repair capabilities. Upon completion, Sanad will be the only independent MRO in the MENA region with such repair capabilities, reinforcing its competitive position regionally and globally.
The development in Al Ain Region is part of a broader strategy to bolster Abu Dhabi's industrial footprint through purpose-built infrastructure, contributing to the growth of a dedicated aerospace ecosystem and supporting the emirate's ambition to be a global aviation hub.
This initiative is expected to generate over 350 jobs, focusing on Emirati talent, and aligns with the UAE's broader economic diversification objectives, supporting the localisation of high-value capabilities and deeper integration into global value chains.
Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Sanad, stated, "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."
As global demand for engine maintenance accelerates, advanced repair capabilities will define the next generation of MRO leaders. Through this investment, Sanad is positioning itself to scale ahead of demand and play a leading role in the future of the global engine MRO industry.
