Dubai Aerospace Enterprise to acquire ‘Macquarie AirFinance’

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) announced today that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Macquarie AirFinance Limited (MAF) for an approximate enterprise value of $7 billion.

The combined company will have a pro forma fleet of 1,029 owned, managed and committed aircraft and will serve 191 airline customers in 79 countries. Narrowbody aircraft will represent approximately 70 per cent of the combined fleet.

DAE is expected to welcome 37 new airline customers to its portfolio on completion, including airline customers in 7 new country exposures.

The transaction will be funded with a combination of debt and equity to support DAE’s current investment grade credit ratings.

Commenting on the transaction, Khalifa AlDaboos, Managing Director of DAE, stated, “This transaction demonstrates the shareholder’s long-standing commitment to making DAE one of the world’s most preeminent aircraft leasing companies. This transaction continues DAE’s tradition of acquiring established platforms and fleets that are franchise enhancing in nature and represent exceptional shareholder value.”

Commenting on the transaction, Firoz Tarapore, Chief Executive Officer of DAE, stated, “We are thrilled at this opportunity to bring the fleet and people of MAF into our fold and create a bigger, stronger, more diversified, and well-capitalised aircraft leasing company. Our increased scale and presence, along with an enhanced order book, will allow us to serve an additional number of customers with competitively priced offerings that reflect the synergies associated with our new scale. Our industrial-strength platform will effortlessly handle the onboarding of this transaction which, when completed, will more than double DAE’s fleet size compared to year-end 2024.”

This transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of DAE. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of certain regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2026.

DAE was advised by Allen Overy Shearman Sterling LLP and KPMG.

WAM