AVIATION-

#1- Sanad expands Leap engine overhaul capacity with GE and Safran: Mubadala-owned aerospace engineering and leasing solutions firm Sanad will expand its existing maintenance agreement with GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines to offer full maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities for LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines at its Abu Dhabi facilities, according to a press release (pdf). The expansion will see Sanad invest in tooling, equipment and infrastructure upgrades.

IN CONTEXT- The Leap engine powers two of the highest in-demand aircraft in the narrow-body sector — the Boeing 737 Max and Airbus A320neo groups. The narrow-body aircraft segment is projected to dominate the aviation industry, accounting for over 75% of the future global commercial fleet, the statement says.

#2- Dar tapped as engineer for Paris airport expansion: Sidara-owned Dar will oversee a five-year modernization program at Paris-Beauvais Airport under a contract with project commissioner SPV Bellova, according to a press release.

The details: The project will include airside and landside upgrades, parking expansions, building renovations and equipment installations. The engineering firm's French subsidiary, Dar France, will audit designs, monitor construction quality and work on resolving any outstanding issues through to the end of the liability period.

ZONES-

#1- Companies registered in Dubai’s Meydan Freezone will get preferential shipping rates and dedicated assistance for DHL services under an agreement with the global shipper, according to a press release. The tie-up looks to boost SME growth, particularly in the e-commerce, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail sectors, by facilitating cross-border trade, faster customs clearance, and automated tracking.

ROADS-

Syria + France to rehabilitate 37 bridges: The Syrian government and France’s Matière have amended an MoU — signed in 2023 — to rehabilitate 32 damaged bridges, adding five more bridges to the agreed-upon infrastructure, the Syrian News Agency (SANA) reports. The recently added bridges will now be treated as a priority for rehabilitation among the 37 selected, the news agency reports.

Latest reconstruction efforts: Damascus clinched a USD 147 bn grant from the World Bank to fix up its weathered electricity infrastructure last week, which comes as part of a concerted regional and international effort to jumpstart its economy and reconstruction efforts. Turkey will provide Syria with 1 GW of electricity and 2 bn cbm of natural gas annually, enough to generate an additional 1.3 GW, whereas Qatar also pledged 2 mn cbm of natural gas daily for 400 MW of electricity.

Tags: