Dubai Aerospace Enterprise and Blackstone Credit & Insurance have agreed to launch a new global investment programme aimed at building a large-scale aircraft leasing portfolio, targeting annual investments of about $1.6 billion.
The programme, branded Equator, will focus on acquiring commercial aircraft that are already leased to airlines worldwide. Dubai Aerospace Enterprise will source these assets from third parties, while its Aircraft Investor Services division will oversee asset management.
Firoz Tarapore, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, said the partnership strengthens the company’s third-party fleet management capabilities. He noted that the company’s global reach, customer base, and operational expertise position it well to support the long-term growth of the programme.
Blackstone Credit & Insurance will provide a broad range of capital solutions to fund the initiative. The platform is designed to remain flexible across different market conditions, enabling consistent investment in aviation assets. Aneek Mamik, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone, said the collaboration reflects the firm’s focus on deploying capital into high-quality, asset-backed opportunities.
The Equator programme will also draw investment from funds managed by ITE Management, a strategic partner of Blackstone Credit & Insurance.
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise currently manages a fleet of around 700 aircraft, including over 100 aircraft valued at more than $4 billion under management as of the end of 2025. The company also provides aircraft servicing and management for institutional investors through multiple agreements.
Blackstone Credit & Insurance’s infrastructure and asset-based credit platform manages over $100 billion in assets, supporting investments across sectors including infrastructure, commercial finance, and real estate.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
