Sanad and Thales elevate aviation industry with strategic alliance
Dubai, UAE—Sanad, the global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions leader wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company PJSC (Mubadala), has entered into a landmark strategic framework agreement with Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies within Aerospace, Defense & Security and Digital Identity & Security.
The agreement expands Sanad’s Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services into the dynamic fields of airport security and air traffic control and digital operation, beckoning a pivotal moment in the region’s aviation landscape.
The milestone agreement was signed during the Dubai Air Show with Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Sanad and Elias Merrawe, Vice president, Civil Business of Thales in the Middle East, marking a significant milestone in the region’s aerospace sector.
Building on the foundation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Sanad and Thales in 2022, the two companies are poised to deepen their collaboration in the rapidly developing realms of airport services.
Under the new agreement, the partnership will extend into the domain of airport security and digital operations, encompassing crucial areas such as airport safety and security systems in this endeavor, Thales will take the lead in designing and constructing these vital systems. Concurrently, Sanad will assume a pivotal role in overseeing critical tasks such as maintenance, installation, rigorous testing, and commissioning activities for these cutting-edge systems.
“Our strategic alliance with Thales represents a significant milestone in Sanad’s journey. By collaborating with an industry leader, we contribute to sustaining efficient operations at some of the busiest airports in the Middle East and Africa. We aim to shape a more cohesive and collaborative aviation industry rooted in engineering excellence and technological innovation. Additionally, we are contributing to building local capacity and reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading aviation hub by expanding our partnerships, capabilities, and geographic footprint,” said Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Sanad.
Elias Merrawe, Vice president, Civil Business of Thales in the Middle East, commented: “Sanad’s outstanding global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions combined with Thales’ high technologies will create prosperous synergies in the field of airport operations and security. This strategic agreement will bring innovative technologies to the front and boost local industrial growth. As we look to build a future that we can all trust, innovation and knowledge exchange play a vital role in developing a sustainable aviation future.”
Airports in the Middle East are projected to invest over USD 150 billion in capacity expansion due to global air passenger demand, which is projected to increase more than two-fold by 2040.
