Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) reported revenue of $865.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, up from $843.6 million a year earlier, as the aircraft leasing giant pushed ahead with an ambitious expansion strategy.
Profit before tax and exceptional items climbed to $229.9 million, compared with $217.1 million in the first half of 2025, translating into a pre-tax profit margin of 26.6%. Operating cash flow reached $594 million, while available liquidity grew to $4.4 billion.
During the period, DAE acquired 18 aircraft and sold 39, while signing 114 lease agreements, extensions and amendments. The company's owned, managed and committed fleet stood at 638 aircraft. Its engineering division booked around 720,000 man hours and completed 142 aircraft checks.
The results come alongside two major strategic announcements. DAE unveiled a co-investment platform with Blackstone Credit & Insurance called Equator, targeting $1.6 billion in annual aircraft investment. It also launched Mustang, a co-investment programme with Neuberger aimed at $6.0 billion in aircraft investment over the medium term.
Chief Executive Officer Firoz Tarapore described the first half as a defining period for the company, pointing to the announced acquisition of Macquarie AirFinance Limited (MAF) alongside the two new investment programmes. He said the initiatives are expected to add roughly $15 billion in new aircraft assets to DAE's fleet over the next five years.
Following the completion of the MAF acquisition, DAE said it now serves more than 175 airline customers across 75 countries, with an owned, managed and committed fleet of nearly 1,000 aircraft, marking a significant leap in scale for the Dubai-based leasing company.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
