Airbus Expands Partnership with UAE, Strengthening Local Aircraft Parts Manufacturing

Airbus Expands Partnership with UAE, Strengthening Local Aircraft Parts Manufacturing

In a renewed commitment to the UAE’s aviation sector, Airbus has deepened its long-standing partnership with Emirati firms to expand local aircraft parts manufacturing. This week, Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, outlined the company’s ambitions as it signed a new agreement with EDGE Group, advancing the UAE’s role in the production of high-quality components for global markets.

Speaking to Emirates News Agency (WAM), Dumont noted that Airbus has been an instrumental partner in the UAE’s aerospace development, working closely with local firms to build manufacturing capabilities for parts used across the Airbus aircraft lineup. “This collaboration has empowered UAE-based companies to manufacture critical components, reflecting our confidence in the UAE as a strategic partner,” he said.

As part of the new agreement, Airbus and EDGE Group will launch production of a specialized fuel tank for the C295 transport aircraft. According to Dumont, every Airbus aircraft currently in production now features parts manufactured in the UAE, underscoring the UAE’s integral role in Airbus’s global supply chain. Dumont shared Airbus’s goal of doubling its industrial activities within the UAE over the next decade, supporting both local and global aviation needs.

Dumont emphasized Airbus’s long-term vision for UAE collaboration, with an eye toward creating a globally recognized manufacturing hub. “Our aim is not merely to meet local demand but to elevate the UAE as a leading global player in aircraft parts manufacturing,” he said, adding that these initiatives provide Emirati industries with access to international markets and significant growth opportunities.

The partnership with EDGE Group and other Emirati companies like EPI and Strata aligns with Airbus’s strategy of transferring technical expertise and engineering knowledge to UAE talent. Dumont highlighted Airbus’s efforts to establish a skilled workforce that can contribute to the UAE’s growing aviation sector. Since Airbus’s first locally produced aircraft component in 2010 with Strata, the partnership has evolved to support advanced production lines and, in Dumont’s words, a “qualitative shift” in the UAE’s manufacturing capabilities.

One significant milestone is the UAE’s position as the exclusive global supplier of the specialized fuel tank for the C295 aircraft, produced in collaboration with EDGE Group subsidiary EPI. Dumont said that this achievement not only showcases the UAE’s manufacturing capacity but also enhances its industrial independence and positions it as a key player in the aerospace industry.

Airbus has also invested heavily in training and skill development for Emirati talent, ensuring the workforce is equipped to manage complex manufacturing and design projects independently. “Our commitment extends beyond production training,” Dumont explained. “We’re focused on empowering Emirati talent to lead in design and innovation, furthering the UAE’s capability in aviation.”

This agreement reinforces Airbus’s strategy to support the UAE in becoming a global manufacturing leader, fostering both local expertise and competitive industry standards on the international  stage.