Emirates and Safran to Build Aircraft Seat Factory in Dubai
Emirates and Safran Seats, a world-leading aircraft seating manufacturer, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a manufacturing and seat assembly facility in Dubai, marking a landmark collaboration in the aviation sector.
The facility will initially focus on producing Business and Economy Class seats for cabin retrofit projects, with plans to expand to line-fit production in the future. The state-of-the-art plant will serve Emirates as well as other Safran customers, bringing industry-leading expertise closer to the airline’s operations while creating significant local industrial capacity.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, described the agreement as “a pivotal and strategic cooperation that establishes Dubai as an aerospace manufacturing hub.”
He added that the initiative will create highly skilled jobs, support Emirates’ retrofit programme, and attract suppliers, technology companies, and talent from across the globe.
Sheikh Ahmed further noted that the project aligns with Dubai’s D33 economic agenda, reinforcing the emirate’s position in a strategic industry while continuing to diversify the economy.
“The UAE has built one of the world’s most successful aviation industries, and now it is time to build manufacturing capabilities to match that success,” he said.
Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, highlighted the partnership’s significance: “This initiative reinforces our commitment to operational excellence and supports our industrial strategy to meet growing global demand. Together with Emirates, we continue to shape the future of aviation seating through innovation and resilience.”
Safran has been a longstanding partner in Emirates’ fleet refurbishment, supplying premium seating for both retrofit programmes and the airline’s new A350 fleet. The new facility, expected to be completed by Q4 2027, will cover approximately 20,000–25,000 square metres, with phased production initially assembling up to 1,000 Business Class seats per year.
