Aircraft lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has partnered with Blackstone Credit & Insurance (BXCI), a US-based credit asset manager, to establish a new aircraft leasing venture.
The new entity, to be called Equator, will develop a diversified portfolio of commercial aircraft leased to airlines globally, targeting an annual deployment of $1.6 billion, according to a joint statement released on Thursday.
DAE will be responsible for sourcing aircraft from third-party providers, while its aircraft investor services division will oversee the management of Equator’s assets.
Chief executive officer Firoz Tarapore noted that Blackstone’s capital will underpin the expansion of DAE’s third-party fleet management business.
Further details regarding Equator’s operational headquarters were not disclosed.
BXCI, a division of Blackstone, will contribute capital through funds managed in partnership with ITE Management.
Headquartered in Dubai, DAE ranks among the world’s largest aircraft lessors, managing a fleet of nearly 700 aircraft from Boeing, Airbus, and ATR, including over 100 aircraft valued at more than $4 billion as of December 31, 2025.
The company currently maintains 17 servicing and management agreements with institutional and financial investors.
As of December 31, 2025, BXCI’s infrastructure and asset-based credit division oversees assets exceeding $100 billion.
In the previous month, DAE secured additional credit facilities from 15 global financial institutions, strengthening its liquidity to support future growth.
Earlier in February, the company agreed to acquire Macquarie AirFinance, a subsidiary of Australia’s Macquarie Group, in a deal valued at $7 billion.
DAE is owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, the Dubai government’s principal investment arm.
