- Building on success to advance Emirati leadership and innovation in aerospace.
Sanad, the global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions leader wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company PJSC (Mubadala), today announced the launch of the third cohort of the Sanad Future Leaders Program in collaboration with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s leading institution for aviation and aerospace education.
The announcement took place during a special ceremony at the Dubai Airshow 2025, which also celebrated the graduation of the program’s second cohort and the growing network of Embry-Riddle alumni shaping the future of the global aerospace industry.
Building on this momentum, the Sanad Future Leaders Program continues to serve as a cornerstone of Sanad’s commitment to human capital development. Launched in 2022, the Sanad Future Leaders Program is designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders within the aerospace sector through a tailored, year-long curriculum that blends leadership, technical, and financial acumen. The inaugural cohort was delivered in partnership with a leading European business school, while the second, and now third, editions are being conducted with Embry-Riddle Worldwide following the success and measurable impact of the collaboration.
Through its comprehensive 12-month hybrid learning model, the program combines online modules delivered through Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide Campus with in-person sessions conducted in Abu Dhabi and at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach, Florida, campus in the United States. Participants benefit from monthly personalized coaching and mentoring sessions, specialized lectures, and workshops led by international industry experts, all designed to connect them to global best practices in business and aerospace leadership.
Recognizing the strong results achieved to date, Sanad has retained the program’s proven structure for its third edition, which will welcome eight high-potential employees representing key disciplines across operations, engineering, and corporate functions. The program continues to deliver measurable results across Sanad’s operations, driving both professional growth and organizational impact. Graduates of previous cohorts have applied their enhanced leadership capabilities, including strategic thinking, decision-making, and emotional intelligence, to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and strengthen collaboration across departments. Their contributions have led to more cohesive communication, accelerated project delivery, and the successful implementation of process enhancements that continue to benefit the business. These outcomes reflect how the program has translated learning into action, building a stronger, more agile organization. By developing leaders who drive change from within, the program has reinforced Sanad’s internal talent bench and succession pipeline, preparing high-potential Emirati professionals to lead the company’s next phase of growth.
Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Sanad, said: “Our renewed collaboration with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University reinforces Sanad’s long-standing commitment to developing the next generation of aerospace leaders. Investing in our people is fundamental to our growth, it ensures that Sanad continues to lead with innovation, excellence, and resilience. Each cohort of the Sanad Future Leaders Program strengthens our talent pipeline and empowers our employees to contribute meaningfully to Abu Dhabi’s vision as a global aerospace hub.”
- Barry Butler, President of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Ph.D., commented: “We are proud to continue this collaboration with Sanad in shaping the next generation of aerospace leaders. The sustained success of the program highlights the value of integrating academic expertise with industry experience to equip emerging leaders with the knowledge, agility, and global perspective needed to drive innovation and growth across the aviation sector.”
Launched as part of Sanad’s long-term commitment to developing Emirati talent, the Sanad Future Leaders Program blends academic rigor with real-world application. It serves as a model for how corporate-academic partnerships can accelerate professional growth and contribute to national objectives, supporting the UAE’s vision to nurture a globally competitive and future-ready workforce in advanced industries.
