Strata, Mubadala Investment Company’s aerospace manufacturing unit, is evaluating expansion in the Far East through another plane-parts supplier and is in talks with Saudi Arabian firms to outsource work to the kingdom as it seeks to build a global network of suppliers.
Strata, which has $7.5 billion worth of orders from Boeing and Airbus until 2030, is negotiating with companies in Malaysia and China, where it has identified and visited suppliers, Ismail Abdulla, the chief executive of Strata told The National. The company will pick the companies and locations within 18 to 24 months before deciding on the form of partnership ranging from acquisitions to new facilities, he said.
“We want to build a network of suppliers that are part of Strata ecosystem which will facilitate Strata delivering on its commitments,” Mr Abdulla said. “Some will be closer to OEMs [original equipment manufacturers], some will be far, depending on their competitiveness.”
Strata is the Arabian Gulf’s only producer of aircraft components and is a key part of the UAE's efforts to diversify its economy from oil by building up its manufacturing industry. It started operations in 2010 and makes composite parts for jet liner wings and tail fins for Airbus A380 and A330 models, vertical fin ribs for Boeing 777s and 787 Dreamliners. It will also supply empennage ribs for tail planes the 777X, Boeing’s latest generation aircraft, in a contract announced Monday.
Strata is still evaluating partnerships in US and Europe, to be closer to its customers Boeing and Airbus, but has yet to make a decision. The preference will be to acquire an existing supplier rather than buy a new facility, Mr Abdulla said.
"Why shall we go reinvent the wheel?" he said. "Its better to partner with someone and just hit the ground running."
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Read more:
Strata sets pace for growth of UAE aerospace sector
Mubadala signs contracts for manufacturing, maintenance with Boeing and DAE
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The company is also in talks with Saudi Arabia’s Taqnia to outsource work on aerostructures production to the country in two years and avoid duplicating efforts of the neighbouring countries’ aerospace sectors, Mr Abdulla said. Taqnia is a technology development and investment company owned by the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund.
Taqnia Aeronautics is building a facility that will begin operations in 2020 with production capabilities including fixed-wing and rotary-wing structures for commercial and military use and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), according to its website.
“The strategy is that when we support them, we will have an agreement where some of the parts that we manufacture today or we buy from Europe and States can be manufactured in Saudi Arabia because it’s close to us,” Mr Abdulla said. “We complete each other, we do not compete.”
Strata would benefit by diversifying its supplier base, being close to its suppliers and creating an “ecosystem” of regional aerostructure makers to deliver on requirements of the aircraft manufacturers, he said.
The firm is targeting to maintain revenues at Dh500 million this year, unchanged from 2017, as the industry faces “challenging” conditions with a “slow-down” in plane orders by airlines in the short-term that is lagging behind forecasts of aircraft manufacturers, Mr Abdulla said.
Boeing, one of Strata’s main customers, is caught in the midst of a looming trade war between the US and China in which the Asian economic giant is threatening a 25 per cent tariff on aircraft.
But Mr Abdulla said Strata is “not concerned” about any potential impact on its production rates because of its diverse portfolio.
The company’s first-quarter sales reached Dh106m, and is on track to achieve its target of Dh1 billion in revenues by 2020, Mr Abdulla said declining to reveal when it will break-even.
The aerospace company will not seek to raise funds this year and is not considering an IPO at this stage, he said. It is not currently in talks with other plane manufacturers but is “keeping a close ear” to the industry for potential opportunities as they arise.
Strata said on Tuesday it completed the manufacturing process of an A330 flap track fairing that was redesigned by a team of Emirati engineers.
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
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How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
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Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
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Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
