Dubai Aerospace closes $9B Macquarie AirFinance deal, becomes world's third-largest lessor
What's the deal? Dubai Aerospace EnterpriseDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (DAE) has completed its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Macquarie AirFinanceDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (MAF) and its consolidated subsidiaries. The total value is about $9 billion, including changes to MacquarieDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →'s fleet between the deal's announcement and its close.
Why now? The transaction was first announced in February 2026. DAE was advised by Allen Overy Shearman Sterling LLP and KPMG.
What's the endgame? DAE now owns, manages, or holds contractual commitments for a fleet of roughly 1,000 aircraft, leased to more than 175 airlines across over 75 countries. The company also holds commitments to buy about 150 aircraft from BoeingDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Airbus, and ATR.
The deal makes DAE the world's third-largest aircraft lessor by both fleet value and number of owned and managed aircraft, according to the company.
What they're saying: "The completion of the Macquarie AirFinance acquisition represents a new and important milestone in the company's journey," said Firoz Tarapore, chief executive officer of DAE. He added that current order deliveries extend into the 2030s, giving the company "greater flexibility" to meet airline customers' fleet needs.
Tarapore said the combined entity strengthens DAE's ties with Boeing and Airbus, and that new customers will join its aircraft leasing arm, DAE Capital.
The signal: The tie-up reflects continued consolidation among the world's biggest aircraft lessors as scale becomes decisive in a market defined by long order backlogs and tight aircraft supply. Backed by recent initiatives with Blackstone Credit and Insurance and Neuberger BermanDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →'s specialty finance arm, DAE is positioning to cover the full operating life cycle of an airline's fleet.
Read more: Entrepreneur Al Arabiya
