Sanad’s Al Ain GTF centre will need 1,000-plus technicians, CFO says

Abu Dhabi-based aerospace company Sanad anticipates its new GTF engine maintenance centre in Al Ain will require over 1,000 technicians when fully operational, according to the CFO. The workforce will be drawn from within the UAE, through universities, trainee programmes and on-the-job training to address the global shortage of skilled aviation workers.

Sanad's workforce grew by 44% year-on-year in the first half of 2026 to 898 employees, with Emiratisation reaching 36.9%, and UAE nationals comprising 51.6% of senior leadership positions. The company's next phase will require a larger technical pipeline, with a focus on developing homegrown talent. Sanad is constructing two facilities in Al Ain, one dedicated to GTF engines, which is set to begin engine inductions in 2028, and the other a Dh480 million Repair Centre of Excellence, scheduled to start operations by 2030 and support over 350 jobs.

The expansion is driven by the global commercial fleet's expected growth to around 41,000 aircraft by 2035-2036, as per Oliver Wyman projections. Sanad aims to reduce delays caused by global supply-chain constraints by bringing more repair and testing work in-house through vertical integration. The company has also launched a Trent 700 rebuild programme and is expanding into asset management, repair, testing, and material support to provide airlines with more flexibility during engine maintenance capacity constraints.