Dubai's DAE and Neuberger arm to launch aircraft leasing firm targeting $6 billion investment

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial

06/07/2026 12:21

DUBAI, July 6 (Reuters) - Dubai Aerospace Enterprise is launching a new aircraft leasing co-investment vehicle with Neuberger Specialty Finance that will target investment of around $6 billion over the medium-term and across multiple vehicles, the two companies said in a joint statement on Monday.
Here are some details:
The new aircraft leasing co-investment vehicle, Mustang Aerospace, will enable managed funds of both DAE and Neuberger's asset-based finance arm to acquire a diverse fleet of aircraft.
The co-investment vehicle plans to deploy capital steadily "over a long-term period to build Mustang into an entity of significant size and heft."
The deal comes as the Iran warhas thrown global aviation into turmoil this year, with heavy schedule disruption and provoking a spike in jet fuel prices, compounding earlier challenges for airlines including delays in deliveries by the biggest planemakers.
The transaction also marks the latest expansion of asset managers into aviation finance, a sector that has attracted growing institutional interest as supply constraints push lease rates higher.
Mustang has also signed a deal with Goldman Sachs, Mizuho, BNP Paribas, MUFG, Société Générale, and Truist to obtain committed warehouse financing.
DAE is owned by Dubai's wealth fund ICD. It has a fleet of around 700 aircraft that was valued at $25 billion as of the end of March.
     

 (Reporting by Federico Maccioni, Editing by Louise Heavens)
 ((federico.maccioni@thomsonreuters.com, +971 527370852))