Emirates and Safran sign deal for aircraft seat plant in Dubai
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 18, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 18, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Emirates and Safran have partnered to open an aircraft seat manufacturing plant in Dubai, aiming to enhance production and reduce delivery delays.
DUBAI (Reuters) -Emirates airline and French aerospace group Safran have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a manufacturing and seat assembly plant in Dubai, Safran said on Tuesday.
The plant will serve Dubai-based Emirates and other Safran customers amid growing demand for aircraft.
It will concentrate on business and economy class seats for cabin refurbishment projects, with plans to expand into new aircraft in the future.
Safran aims to complete the plant by the fourth quarter of 2027, with initial plans to assemble up to 1,000 business class seats per year.
Boosting seat production is at the centre of efforts to clear a logjam that has contributed to billions of dollars of aircraft delays for industry giants Airbus and Boeing, and higher fares for passengers.
The new plant could mean Emirates taking deliveries of aircraft without seats and then flying them to Dubai to install seats at the new facility, something that would normally be done at Airbus or Boeing factories before planes are delivered.
(Reporting by Tim Hepher. Writing by Ahmed Elimam. Editing by Mark Potter)
Business class seats are premium seating options on aircraft that offer more space, comfort, and amenities compared to economy class, designed for business travelers and those seeking a more luxurious flying experience.
Aircraft refurbishment refers to the process of updating or renovating an aircraft's interior, including seats, cabin design, and technology, to improve passenger comfort and meet current standards.
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