New Maintenance Training Program Set to Advance Emiratization Objectives in the UAE
Dubai, UAE – November 19, 2025: Lufthansa Technik Middle East, GE Aerospace and Etihad Engineering have joined forces to develop a qualification program that will offer UAE nationals with hands-on experience and career pathways in the aviation sector.
The agreement signed during this week’s Dubai Airshow 2025 at Dubai World Central unites Lufthansa Technik Middle East, GE Aerospace, and Etihad Engineering in a shared commitment to develop a comprehensive Maintenance Training Program (MTP) that will empower the UAE’s local talent pool with career opportunities in aviation MRO.
Developed in collaboration with Lufthansa Technical Training, the Maintenance Training Program is specifically tailored to address the technical qualification requirements of the UAE’s aviation workforce. The program will combine classroom lectures with on-the-job training, covering key topics including airframe structures, aircraft maintenance and engine fundamentals. Lufthansa Technical Training’s renowned expertise in academia, together with Lufthansa Technik Middle East’s technical capabilities, will deliver high-quality, industry-relevant training to prepare the next generation of skilled aviation professionals for successful careers in aircraft maintenance.
Daniel Hoffmann, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Engineering, said: "This partnership marks an exciting step forward for the UAE’s aviation sector. Our joint efforts with Lufthansa Technik Middle East and GE Aerospace will help nurture homegrown talent, while introducing new technologies and practices to benefit the entire Middle Eastern MRO community.”
Aziz Koleilat, President & CEO of GE Aerospace for the Middle East, Türkiye, Eastern Europe & CIS said: “At GE Aerospace, we are proud to partner with Lufthansa Technik Middle East and Etihad Engineering to support our shared commitment to developing local talent and advancing the UAE’s aviation sector. By bringing together GE Aerospace’s global expertise with our partners’ strong regional capabilities, we’re helping build a new generation of Emirati aviation professionals, and reinforcing the UAE’s position as a center of aerospace excellence.”
Upon successful completion of the training program, graduates will have the opportunity to join Lufthansa Technik Middle East, GE Aerospace, and Etihad Engineering as part of their emerging workforce. By providing recruitment pathways and practical training facilities, the three collaborating entities are instrumental in accelerating Emiratization within the aviation sector.
Ziad Al Hazmi, Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Technik Middle East said: “We are deeply grateful to the UAE for its steadfast support, and we are committed to giving back to the community by investing in the growth and development of local talent. Working alongside Etihad Engineering and GE Aerospace, we are fostering an environment where local professionals can thrive, ensuring the region remains at the forefront of global MRO excellence.”
This strategic agreement underscores the partners’ commitment to advancing career development in the UAE, and advancing expertise in airframe and aircraft maintenance. Together, Etihad Engineering, GE Aerospace, Lufthansa Technical Training in cooperation with Lufthansa Technik Middle East are paving the way for greater participation of the homegrown workforce in the technical fields of aviation, contributing to the sector’s continued advancement.
About GE Aerospace
GE Aerospace is a global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader with an installed base of approximately 49,000 commercial and 29,000 military aircraft engines. With a global team of approximately 53,000 employees building on more than a century of innovation and learning, GE Aerospace is committed to inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely. Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow and the future at www.geaerospace.com.
About Etihad Airways Engineering
Etihad Airways Engineering (Etihad Engineering) is one of the world’s leading commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services providers and the largest in the Middle East. The company offers comprehensive aircraft maintenance and engineering services, including design, advanced composite repair, cabin refurbishment and component services, as well as technical training, from its state-of-the-art 550,000 sqm facility located in Abu Dhabi, adjacent to Zayed International Airport. The 2000-strong Etihad Engineering team with professionals from more than 60 nations has successfully completed aircraft maintenance projects over the years for hundreds of satisfied customers from all over the world. For more information, please visit: www.etihadengineering.com and follow the latest company updates on LinkedIn at http://bit.ly/EYEngLinkedIn
About Lufthansa Technik Middle East
Lufthansa Technik Middle East (LTME) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik Group. LTME started operations in the Aviation District of Dubai South, a master planned city centered on the vision of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. With LTME’s startup in 2017 and the overwhelming support of the Dubai South team, it has grown quite rapidly over the years with expansions in capabilities ranging from Airframe Related Component (ARC®) support, AOG (Aircraft-On-Ground) support, engine QEC events, and engine wash services including a local material support desk & Warehousing.
About Lufthansa Technical Training
With some 35 subsidiaries and affiliates, the Lufthansa Technik Group is one of the leading providers of technical aircraft services in the world. Certified internationally as maintenance, production and design organization, the company has a workforce of more than 25,000 employees. Lufthansa Technik’s portfolio covers the entire range of services for commercial and VIP/special mission aircraft, engines, components and landing gear in the areas of digital fleet support, maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification, completion and conversion as well as the manufacture of innovative cabin products.