Fledgling aerospace business finds firm footing in Dubai
In Dubai, the temperature never gets anywhere close to freezing but that hasn’t stopped the Arabian Gulf state from building an artificial ski slope.

In Dubai, the temperature never gets anywhere close to freezing but that hasn’t stopped the Arabian Gulf state from building an artificial ski slope. As the emirate has sought to re-invent itself as a center for tourism and commerce to ensure its economic future as oil revenues dwindle, projects like this have earned it a reputation for money-no-object spending. So why shouldn’t it add an aerospace industry to its wish list?

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) emerged in February 2006 with a mission to develop a portfolio of interests spanning manufacturing, finance, education and management. The company is backed by six leading local investors: real estate group EMAAR Properties; the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority; and investment groups Istithmar, Dubai International Capital, AMLAK Finance and Dubai International Financial Center.