AVIATION-

Budget carrier flydubai broke ground on its USD 190 mn aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Dubai South, according to a statement. The facility — scheduled for completion in 4Q 2026 — will span 32.6k sqm and host an aircraft hangar, support workshops, and office buildings. The facility is set to bring “significant reductions in operational costs,” COO Mick Hills said. “Having our own in-country MRO facility will ensure a quicker turnaround of our fleet maintenance while adhering to the highest quality standards,” he said.

Part of a larger strategy: Flydubai has been on a quest to secure catered MRO services for its growing operations in order to cut down on costs and reduce schedule disruptions due to repairs. In February, the airline inked a services agreement with Boeing that will see the latter provide tailored parts packages, including quick engine change kits for the airline’s 737 Max fleet.

REFRESHER- Flydubai secured an agreement with Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) in Dubai South to set up the purpose-built MRO facility back in November. MBRAH launched the first phase of its Aerospace Supply Chain zone in Dubai South in April, featuring 11 separate facilities tailored to support engine shops, solution workshops, and landing gear MRO services.

#2- Air Arabia will launch a daily direct service between Sharjah and Prague starting 20 December, according to a press release. The route connects Sharjah International Airport with Václav Havel Airport Prague.

#3- Etihad Airways is expanding its network with three new seasonal routes, with plans to fly to Kazan in Russia from December, Salalah in Oman from next May, and Krakow in Poland from June 2026, according to a press release.

CONSTRUCTION-

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.

M&A-

Knowledge Group acquires Biz Group: Abu Dhabi’s Knowledge Group, part of Nema Education, has acquired UAE-based Biz Group to scale up regional learning and consulting services, according to a press release (pdf). The transaction boosts Knowledge Group’s capabilities in digital learning, AI integration, and VR-powered training. No rebranding will take place post-acquisition for business continuity purposes, the statement read.

Biz Group? Biz Group has over 30 years of experience providing corporate training to both public and private sector clients, and has worked with firms in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, as well as in the wider MENA region.

REAL ESTATE-

Reef launches AED 450 mn Dubai residential project: Reef Luxury Developments has launched Reef 998, a AED 450 mn residential project in Dubai Land Residence Complex, according to a press release (pdf). The 355.7k sq ft development on Hamdan Bin Zayed Road will include 323 residences, along with lifestyle amenities, and is slated for handover in 2Q 2028.

A few AED bn to go: The developer is planning to deploy AED 14 bn over 30 upcoming projects by this December. The firm already launched its AED 175 mn Reef 1000 project, as well as its AED 300 mn Reef 999 development in Al Furjan earlier this year.

BANKING-

#1- ADIB to ease business banking for Rakez tenants: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (Rakez) inked an MoU with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) to facilitate opening bank accounts for its clients, according to a press release. The partnership provides access to business accounts, digital banking solutions, and financing options tailored for SMEs and startups. The bank will offer dedicated support to Rakez clients during account setup and ongoing operations.

#2- Ajman Bank launched its first in-house point of sale (POS) and payment processing solution for business clients, in partnership with Dubai-based fintech VaultsPay, according to a statement. The system offers instant settlement, real-time processing, and fraud protection — and supports credit, debit, and prepaid card transactions, according to a separate press release. VaultsPay, licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), will provide the back-end infrastructure for the co-branded platform.

LOGISTICS-

#1- Companies registered in Meydan Freezone will get preferential shipping rates and dedicated assistance for DHL’s services under an agreement with DHL, 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.

#2- 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, and create 140 new jobs focusing on local talent.

OIL AND GAS-

Spain’s Ampo to provide valves on Adnoc’s USD 3.6 bn Meram: Spain’s Ampo PoyamValves will supply 116 cryogenic valves for Adnoc’s USD 3.6 bn maximizing ethane recovery and monetization (MERAM) project, with delivery scheduled for this year and the next, Ampo said in a press release. The order includes large-format valves for use in extreme low-temperature conditions at the Habshan 5 gas plant to help extract ethane from natural gas.

SOUND SMART- A cryogenic valve is specifically engineered to safely operate in low-temperature applications such as liquified natural gas (LNG).

SPACE-

Aspire Space partners with Leap71 on UAE-based launch systems: Luxembourg-founded Aspire Space partnered with Dubai-based engineering firm Leap 71 to develop a large reusable space launch vehicle capable of delivering up to 15 metric tons to low Earth orbit, according to a statement. The first launch is slated for 2030, with hot-fire testing of the propulsion system set to begin in 3Q 2026. Leap71 will design the propulsion stack using its proprietary AI model Noyron. Aspire is also relocating its core operations to the UAE as part of the agreement.

Tags: