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DAE secures $2.8b funding after $7b fleet-doubling acquisition
The package includes $2.3 billion in conventional financing and $0.5 billion in Shariah-compliant liquidity arranged through a syndicate of 15 global lenders
- PUBLISHED: Wed 25 Mar 2026, 5:18 PM
Dubai-based Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has strengthened its financial firepower with $2.8 billion in new long-term revolving credit facilities, reinforcing its liquidity position as the aircraft lessor accelerates global expansion following its landmark $7 billion acquisition of Macquarie AirFinance earlier this year.
The new unsecured facilities, which mature in March 2031, replace an existing $1.4 billion facility and lift DAE’s total revolving credit capacity to about $4 billion.
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The package includes $2.3 billion in conventional financing and $0.5 billion in Shariah-compliant liquidity arranged through a syndicate of 15 global lenders.
Emirates NBD and First Abu Dhabi Bank acted as Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers on the conventional tranche, while Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank structured the Islamic facility, underlining strong support from regional and international banking partners.
“This transaction underscores DAE’s exceptional access to liquidity from both our local banking partners and a globally diversified group of leading financial institutions,” said Firoz Tarapore, chief executive officer of DAE.
The financing comes weeks after DAE signed a definitive agreement in February to acquire Macquarie AirFinance in an all-cash transaction valued at about $7 billion—one of the largest aircraft leasing deals globally in recent years. The acquisition will create a combined platform with 1,029 owned, managed and committed aircraft serving 191 airline customers across 79 countries, significantly expanding DAE’s global footprint.
The transaction is also expected to add 37 airline customers and open exposure to seven new country markets, strengthening the company’s reach at a time when airlines increasingly rely on leasing to fund fleet renewal programmes.
Industry analysts say the enlarged platform will propel DAE into the top tier of global aircraft lessors as persistent production constraints at Airbus and Boeing continue to support lease demand and pricing power across the sector.
Macquarie AirFinance itself brings a portfolio of about 352 commercial aircraft across 48 countries, further accelerating DAE’s transition into a scale-driven global leasing powerhouse.
Headquartered in Dubai, DAE currently manages an owned, committed and serviced fleet of roughly 700 aircraft valued at about $25 billion and serves more than 200 airline customers worldwide through offices spanning the Middle East, Europe, Asia and North America.
The expanded credit capacity is expected to provide the group with additional flexibility to finance acquisitions, support aircraft deliveries and capitalise on leasing opportunities emerging from strong post-pandemic air travel demand and tightening global aircraft supply—positioning the Dubai-based lessor for its next phase of strategic growth.
