Sanad, the global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions leader wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, has entered into a five-year partnership with Indonesia’s Lion Air to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for V2500 engines powering its Airbus A320 fleet.

The deal reinforces UAE-Indonesia economic cooperation, aligning with the UAE-Indonesia comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA), which targets $10bn in annual trade by 2026.

The V2500 engine, produced by International Aero Engine, has powered commercial aircraft since 1989, with more than 2,600 in operation across 170 airlines worldwide, accumulating over 275 million flight hours.

As of 2023, more than 5,280 V2500 engines remain in active service.

Sanad will leverage its Abu Dhabi-based facilities to service Lion Air’s V2500 fleet. Having overhauled more than 250 V2500 engines in the past five years, Sanad has been the sole V2500 full overhaul provider in the Middle East since 2012.

This partnership strengthens its position as a key independent MRO provider serving leading global airlines.

Lion Air, Southeast Asia’s largest privately owned airline, operates a fleet of over 310 aircraft.

The agreement extends to include Batik Air and Super Air Jet, subsidiaries of Lion Air, which collectively operate more than 65 V2500-powered aircraft.

Sanad-Lion Air: Strategic industry collaboration

Mansoor Janahi, MD and group CEO at Sanad, stated: “This agreement with Lion Air, Indonesia’s largest airline by fleet size, reinforces our market presence and further establishes Abu Dhabi as a hub for advanced aviation solutions. It also strengthens our ties with Southeast Asia, the fastest-growing aviation market globally, and highlights the UAE’s commitment to expanding economic and industrial collaboration with Indonesia.”

Dennis Kirana, vice CEO of Batam Aero Technics, added: “Sanad’s expertise in maintaining our V2500 fleet makes them the ideal partner. This collaboration ensures the continued efficiency, safety, and reliability of our operations, while also reinforcing the deepening aviation ties between Indonesia and the UAE.”

With over 38 years of experience in aircraft engine MRO, Sanad has serviced more than 600 V2500 engines since 2012, supporting more than 30 airlines and 10 strategic partners across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

The partnership strengthens Sanad’s role as a leading independent MRO provider while contributing to Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as a global aviation hub and aligning with the UAE’s vision for international industrial expansion.

Dubai-based carrier Emirates will spend around $5bn on refitting 220 of its aircraft in order to sustain its network, President Tim Clark said on Wednesday, as the industry struggles with delivery delays for newer jets.

“We have no choice,” Clark told reporters. “This one is the only way we could sustain the network, grow the network.”

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Other airlines are also upgrading their airplanes, including Air India, which is working on refitting its existing fleet in an effort to maintain routes and upgrade the quality of the customer experience.

Clark said Emirates always looks to be at the lead of product development but has had to compromise and take matters into its own hands given delays from plane manufacturers.

“The engineering groups are working at a pace to get these aircraft turned around as quickly as possible. We have most of the parts now that we need to do it,” Clark told reporters.

Clark, who has been an outspoken critic of Boeing since the door blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight last year, said he had yet to meet Boeing’s new CEO Kelly Ortberg and that he wasn’t certain of changes in the delivery schedule.

He added that the airline is not optimistic about Boeing deliveries in October of 2025 and that it’s not sure when it’ll meet production ramp-up requirements.

The Arab Energy Fund, formerly known as APICORP, has partnered with global energy and commodities firm Hartree Partners to establish TAEF Hartree Cleantech LP, a $120m limited partnership focused on decarbonisation technologies across the US and Europe.

The UK-incorporated platform will invest in venture capital (VC) stage companies developing physical and digital decarbonisation technologies.

The initiative aligns with The Arab Energy Fund’s strategy to position itself as the leading impact investor in the energy sector, with a focus on energy security and sustainability.

Strategic investment in cleantech

Hartree Partners has been advancing cleantech investments since 2020 through its subsidiary, Vertree Partners, which specialises in carbon markets, industrial decarbonization solutions, and the energy transition value chain.

Hartree’s cleantech portfolio includes investments in 10 companies across industrial decarbonisation, emissions verification, geospatial data analytics, and climate change adaptation technologies.

“The partnership reflects our strategy to support the energy ecosystem with debt and equity solutions and advances our member countries’ energy agenda by fostering local energy value chains in the MENA region and beyond,” said Khalid Ali Al-Ruwaigh, CEO of The Arab Energy Fund.

Hartree Partners’ founding MD, Stephen Hendel, added: “We are proud to launch this platform alongside The Arab Energy Fund. Our combined expertise will allow us to identify and support transformational cleantech innovations on a global scale.”

New platform to build on Hartree’s previous collabs

The new platform builds on previous collaborations between Hartree and major investors such as BlackRock, Microsoft, and Union Square Ventures.

Its existing portfolio includes 10 companies focused on accelerating decarbonisation solutions, reinforcing The Arab Energy Fund’s position as a global leader in sustainable energy financing.

The Arab Energy Fund and Hartree Partners plan to leverage the platform to scale investment opportunities in the cleantech sector, aiming to drive transformative changes across the global energy landscape.

The RTA is implementing new traffic improvements to enhance the flow of traffic on some roads in Dubai.

The upgrades include road expansions in the Business Bay area and a new entrance to the Muhaisnah area, improving infrastructure for smoother, faster, and more efficient travel.

Traffic routes will be adjusted to improve flow just before the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Mustaqbal Street.

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The road leading from the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Mustaqbal Street toward Al Meydan Road will be widened and transformed from a one-lane road to two lanes, allowing for better and faster traffic movement.

An additional right lane will also be added at the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Mustaqbal Street, for traffic coming from Sheikh Zayed Road toward Al Meydan Road.

A new entrance will be introduced to the labor accommodation area in Muhaisnah through an intersection with a signal on Algeria Street. This will facilitate entry for traffic coming from Tunis Street.

These road improvements will reduce travel time from 10 to 6 minutes on Algeria Street, from Tunis Street to Amman Street.

A new study by Mastercard reveals that 78 per cent of women across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA) aspire to start their own business, signalling a strong shift toward entrepreneurship in the region. The research, released ahead of International Women’s Day 2025, highlights increasing ambition among women entrepreneurs, with 89 per cent expecting their revenue to grow over the next five years.

Entrepreneurial ambitions are particularly high among younger generations, with 89 per cent of female Gen Z in EEMEA expressing interest in launching their businesses, surpassing global averages. This reflects a significant generational shift toward business ownership.

“The entrepreneurial spirit among women in EEMEA is strong and growing, with younger generations leading the way. With access to the right financial tools, mentorship, and digital resources, women entrepreneurs can unlock new business opportunities, drive innovation, and contribute significantly to economic development.

“At Mastercard, we are committed to navigating barriers and fostering an ecosystem where women-led businesses can thrive,” said Selin Bahadirli, executive vice president of services, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard.

Women in EEMEA: A thriving entrepreneurial landscape

Across EEMEA, 51 per cent of women consider themselves entrepreneurs, closely aligning with men (54 per cent), the report showed.

Millennials (55 per cent) and Gen Z (57 per cent) are the most likely to identify as entrepreneurs. Women in the region are drawn to industries such as food and drink (21 per cent), online retail (18 per cent), education (17 per cent), and cosmetics (17 per cent).

Among existing female business owners, healthcare (13 per cent), business services (12 per cent), and wholesale/retail (10 per cent) are key industries.

Additionally, more than half (55 per cent) of women in EEMEA have a side hustle, increasing to 61 per cent among female Gen Z. These ventures are primarily driven by a desire to earn additional income (70 per cent), achieve financial independence (51 per cent), and develop new skills (39 per cent).

Challenges and opportunities

Despite strong ambition, women in EEMEA still face challenges in entrepreneurship. The study highlights that:

• 68 per cent of women cite lack of funding as the biggest barrier to launching a business, slightly higher than men (66 per cent).
• 31 per cent believe entrepreneurship is “not for someone like them”, emphasising the need for mentorship programmes.
• 18 per cent of women, compared to 11 per cent of men, say they don’t know how to start a business, pointing to a need for business training and advisory support.

Women entrepreneurs are increasingly leveraging technology to enhance their operations, with 75 per cent regularly using AI. Among them, 85 per cent report significant cost and time savings, compared to 78 per cent of men.

However, digital security remains a concern, as 35 per cent of female business owners have been targeted by fraudsters, highlighting the need for stronger cybersecurity measures.