Boeing in the Middle East

United Arab Emirates

Overview

Our Presence in the United Arab Emirates

Boeing’s partnership with the UAE began in 1978, with the delivery of the country’s first Boeing airplane to the Dubai Amiri fleet.

From air transport and services to defense and satellite systems, Boeing has worked closely with the UAE to achieve the country’s objectives and ambitions. Throughout the years, the company and the UAE have shared a common vision, promoting economic diversification, advancing sustainable aviation, growing tourism and connectivity, and supporting space exploration.

By the Numbers

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Commercial Market Outlook

259

employees across the UAE

319

Boeing commercial aircraft in service

62+

Boeing defense products in inventories

3

R&D projects with STRATA and Emirates

$233K

in annual charitable giving to local universities and non-profit partners

6

non-profit and university partners

$2.4B

commercial offset to purchase advance composite aero structures and metallic parts by 2030

$1.8B

High Value exports enabled by BDS Offset

2

supplier partnerships (STRATA and EPI)

Boeing Commercial Airplanes

The UAE is home to world’s leading airlines. Boeing partners with Emirates, flydubai, and Etihad Airways, as well as local airplanes lessors Dubai Aerospace Enterprise and Novus Aviation Capital, to support the growth of air traffic.

Emirates, the world’s largest 777 operator, is one of the launch customers of the newest 777X. At Dubai Airshow 2023, Emirates ordered 90 777X airplanes and added five more 787s to its existing order.

Etihad is the largest customer for the 787 Dreamliner in the Middle East, with an order of 75 787 airplanes. They were also among the first carriers globally to order the 777X airplanes.

flydubai, Boeing’s largest regional customer for the 737 family, has 128 737 MAX planes on order. At Dubai Airshow 2023, flydubai announced a purchase agreement with Boeing for 30 787-9 Dreamliners, marking the airline’s introduction into the widebody segment and diversifying its fleet.

Boeing Defense, Space & Security

Boeing partners with the UAE Armed Forces, providing and sustaining the most advanced defense platforms, which include the AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, and the C-17 Globemaster III airlifters. These products have not only bolstered the UAE’s defense capabilities but also have been instrumental in carrying out numerous humanitarian missions worldwide.

Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications operates Boeing 702 satellites, showcasing our collaboration with the UAE in the space domain.

Boeing Global Services

Commercial

Boeing provides comprehensive engineering services and digital aviation solutions to airlines. The company holds aircraft interiors Design Organization Approval (DOA) certifications from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Boeing’s Dubai distribution facility serves as a hub, providing parts to airlines, defense customers, and general aviation across the Middle East.

Boeing’s subsidiary Jeppesen has established a strong presence in Dubai. Renowned as the world’s foremost provider of navigation information and operational efficiency tools, Jeppesen caters to the needs of commercial, business and general aviation.

Defense

Boeing supports the UAE’s AH-64 Apache helicopters through a performance-based logistics contract.

For the UAE’s C-17 fleet, Boeing provides an integrated sustainment program, encompassing services such as heavy maintenance and simulator training for aircrew.

This comprehensive approach ensures the operational readiness and longevity of the defense assets.

Industrial Partnerships

Boeing is an integral industrial partner that supports the UAE’s national aspirations to grow the indigenous aerospace industry. These partnerships support the economy, strengthen global supply chain and develop local talent.

Boeing’s collaboration of over 10 years with the Tawazun Economic Council has enabled key initiatives, most notably, with Strata Manufacturing for the production of the Boeing 787 vertical fin. Today Strata is a Tier 1 composite supplier for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, 777 and 777X.

Tawazun has also empowered Boeing’s partnership with Edge Precision Industries (EPI) for the production of complex metallic machined parts, and the opening of the EPI Surface Treatment facility in Abu Dhabi.

In 2023, Boeing and Tawazun announced the establishment of the Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence in the UAE.

Through the Boeing accelerator program Aerospace Xelerated, which is run in partnership with the Tawazun Council, Boeing is investing in startups that propel aerospace innovation in the region.

Sustainability

Boeing has been a steadfast partner of the UAE in advancing sustainability initiatives for over a decade, aligning with the country’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

In 2011, Boeing established the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium in the UAE, collaborating with Etihad, Khalifa University and other partners to drive research and innovation in sustainable bioenergy.

Since 2019, Boeing and Etihad have formed a strategic sustainability alliance centered around the Boeing 787. In January 2023, Emirates, in partnership with Boeing and GE, successfully operated the first demonstration flight in the region powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in one of the engines of a Boeing 777-300ER.

Boeing has also joined forces with the UAE Ministry of Energy and the World Economic Forum to develop a road map for decarbonizing aviation through power-to-liquid SAF.

Boeing has partnered with the UAE clean energy company Masdar to advance the SAF industry. Boeing is also one of the founding members of Air-CRAFT, a large-scale UAE-based research consortium focused on developing, producing and scaling SAF technologies.

Boeing has worked hand in hand with Amideast to align STEM education with sustainability and empower the UAE youth.

Community Engagement

Boeing helps to prepare the next generation of aerospace talent through work with community partners and academia in the UAE. Since 2007, Boeing has invested more than $3 million in programs designed to unlock the full potential of the youth in the UAE.

Boeing partners with Amideast, INJAZ Al Arab, Mubadala, Education for Employment and Pure Minds Education to deliver STEM education, sustainability, entrepreneurship and employability programs in the UAE. Additionally, Boeing has launched a STEM Lab in Dubai in partnership with Amideast that serves as a hub for educational activities.

Boeing collaborates with universities, including Khalifa University, Emirates Aviation University, and UAE University, to support research, engineering and innovation capabilities and to empower women, as part of the shared commitment to building a skilled and inclusive workforce for the future.