The Growth of the Middle Eastern aeronautical industry

Aerospace and Defense Review | Monday, July 18, 2022

The French Pavilion will highlight the capabilities of companies involved in aviation completions, MRO, engineering consultation, composite repair, cutting-edge logistics solutions, and connectivity systems

FREMONT CA: The French Pavilion at AIME & MRO Middle East will showcase French expertise for two days, with 17 French enterprises participating in this largest commercial aviation expo. Given that the Middle East has the world's second-largest air fleet and aims to acquire more than 2,000 new aircraft by 2030, the region is a top priority investment for French enterprises in this export-led industry. They will take advantage of this opportunity to meet with key decision-makers from all over the world, including airlines, MROs, OEMs, suppliers, interior aircraft specialists, and investors, particularly from the United Arab Emirates, which has the largest civilian air fleet in the GCC, with 509 aircraft. While the UAE's local authorities have announced a regional investment of more than US$136 billion in the distribution and re-export of aeronautical parts by 2030, Saudi Arabia's aerospace market is estimated to be worth US$74.6 billion by 2030.

The MRO sector has undergone a significant transformation, demonstrating remarkable resilience by expanding its scope of activities to include air freight and air and land military markets to offset fluctuations in the civil market in a region that serves as a global trade hub. Following President Emmanuel Macron's visit in December 2021, Dassault Aviation signed the largest military contract in the company's history, selling 80 Rafale aircraft to the United Arab Emirates for a total of US$16 billion, involving several equipment manufacturers, including Safran for engines and Thales for electronics.

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Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), has also formed a joint venture with FIGEAC AERO of France to build high-precision aerostructure components. With total revenue of €52.9 billion, of which €35.1 billion came from exports, the French aeronautics and space industry is the largest contributor to the good

balance of France's foreign trade and, as such, one of the mainstays of domestic industry.

The sector employs more than 300,000 people and includes major worldwide giants like Airbus, Dassault, Thales, and Safran and a large network of subcontractors. In the aeronautics and aerospace sectors, France retains the European leader and ranks second globally. France is ranked third among the aviation suppliers in the United Arab Emirates due to its well-known proficiency in the field. The sector aspires to deliver digital and connected decarbonized aircraft to market by 2035, thanks to an unprecedented State expenditure of €1.5 billion for research and innovation.

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