Embraer and Mubadala sign strategic pact to expand UAE aerospace manufacturing and training
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala have signed an agreement covering component manufacturing, maintenance services and workforce development, positioning UAE companies for deeper integration into global aviation supply chains.
Embraer and Mubadala sign strategic pact to expand UAE aerospace manufacturing and training
Emirati aerospace engineers and technicians are set to benefit from specialist training and placements at facilities operated by Embraer, the world's third-largest civil aircraft manufacturer, following a strategic agreement signed at the Farnborough International Airshow.
The Brazilian company, which has delivered over 8,000 aircraft since its founding in 1969, and Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala signed the Strategic Framework Agreement on July 22 covering aircraft maintenance, component manufacturing, workforce development and research collaboration.
Embraer and Mubadala plan to create pathways for Al Ain-based Strata Manufacturing to become a tier-one supplier, placing the UAE company in direct supply relationships with the aircraft manufacturer's production programmes. The arrangement would allow Strata to supply aerostructures, advanced materials and components for aircraft sold to airlines and operators worldwide.
Global aerospace reach
Strata, established by Mubadala in 2009, has already produced and delivered 100,000 aerostructure components as of June 2025. The company's parts now feature on more than 8 per cent of worldwide single-aisle aircraft fleets, and approximately 30 per cent of wide-body aircraft and business jets globally fly with UAE-manufactured components.
The company currently holds billion-dollar contracts with Boeing, Airbus, Italy's Leonardo and Switzerland's Pilatus Aircraft. It operates from a 350,000 square foot facility in the Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park and maintains a joint venture with Belgium's Syensqo that manufactures carbon fibre prepreg materials for Boeing's 777X programme.
Embraer, headquartered in São José dos Campos, Brazil, reported revenue of $5.3 billion in 2023 and employs almost 22,000 people across 27 offices in ten countries. The company is the leading producer of regional jets globally.
Maintenance and repair expansion
The agreement opens opportunities for Abu Dhabi aircraft maintenance company Sanad to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for Embraer aircraft, with potential expansion across Gulf, South Asian, Middle Eastern and North African markets.
Sanad, established in 1998 as Turbine Services & Solutions and rebranded in 2019, has production capacity to service 300 engines per year following a 2025 expansion. The company is the first maintenance provider in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa region to service CFM LEAP engines, and currently works with more than 40 airlines.
Training programmes for UAE nationals
Workforce development forms a central component of the partnership. Embraer and Mubadala plan to establish engineering and aerospace training programmes for UAE nationals, including practical training, knowledge transfer and work placements at Embraer facilities.
Strata's workforce is 67 per cent Emirati as of June 2025, with 87 per cent of Emirati employees being female. The proposed programmes would give Emirati talent direct exposure to aircraft manufacturing and engineering operations at one of the world's major aircraft producers.
Supply chain integration
Tier-one suppliers work directly with aircraft manufacturers and typically take responsibility for larger components, systems or substantial sections of aircraft programmes. A successful move into that category would deepen Strata's role in Embraer's supply chain and expand the UAE's participation in production of aircraft delivered to customers worldwide.
Aircraft manufacturers have been consolidating their supplier networks and increasingly working with larger partners capable of providing multiple services across manufacturing, materials and maintenance. The agreement positions UAE companies to meet that industry requirement through their combined capabilities in aerostructures manufacturing, advanced materials, aircraft maintenance and aviation services.
Research and innovation hub
The partnership includes joint research into composite materials, additive manufacturing and high-temperature alloys used in next-generation aircraft structures. Both organisations plan to explore creation of a co-located innovation hub that would support development of prototypes and help move new aerospace technologies into commercial production.
Mubadala, Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund with a portfolio of $232 billion spanning six continents, was the world's leading sovereign investor in 2024, deploying $29.2 billion across 52 deals.
The agreement was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow, held from July 20-24, 2026 in Hampshire, England. The biennial event is one of the world's premier aerospace and defence exhibitions.
