Abu Dhabi: Tawazun Council and Airbus have announced a strategic partnership to enhance their collaboration in the aerospace sector by launching a national industrial capability development programme. This initiative was unveiled during the Make it in the Emirates 2025 event and aims to manufacture Cargo Compartment Removable Tanks (CCRTs) in the UAE, in partnership with EPI, a subsidiary of EDGE Group.
According to Emirates News Agency, the agreement was signed in the presence of Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of Tawazun Council, by Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, CEO of Operations at Tawazun Council, and Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus for Africa and the Middle East. The programme aligns with the UAE's vision to expand its industrial footprint within global aerospace and defence supply chains by developing and producing mobile, multi-role fuel tanks for cargo compartments. These tanks will support aerial refuelling, ground support, and extended-range missions.
The initiative is part of the UAE's Tawazun Economic Programme, which is a key strategic tool of Tawazun Council aimed at boosting local content and promoting technology transfer in the aviation and defence sectors. The Council will support the exclusive serial production of this type of removable fuel tank over the next five years. Airbus Defence and Space will source from EPI to manufacture and assemble aerostructures and sub-assemblies and certify specialised production processes.
Once fully developed, EPI will serve as the sole source supplier for these components, reinforcing the UAE's growing role as an industrial partner in the aerospace and defence sectors. Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi highlighted that this project is a phase of a broader roadmap with Airbus, facilitating continuous collaboration and strategic advancement. He emphasized the partnership's role in empowering national industries and supporting the transfer of knowledge and technology to the UAE.
Gabriel Semelas of Airbus expressed the company's commitment to advancing the UAE's aerospace industry through innovation, local upskilling, and job creation. He noted that the establishment of exclusive CCRT production in the UAE marks a significant step in expanding EDGE Precision Industries into defence manufacturing. The collaboration supports EPI's growth in complex aerostructure assemblies and global exports.
With nearly two decades of partnership in the UAE, Airbus has been instrumental in supporting the country's industrial ambitions, contributing to local manufacturing capabilities, talent development, and the gradual transfer of knowledge and technology.