Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) said last Thursday it had reached an agreement with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) for the long-term lease of 13 new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027.
The deal expands an existing partnership between the aircraft lessor and Morocco’s flag carrier. DAE previously leased two 737 MAX aircraft to Royal Air Maroc, which were delivered in 2025 as part of the airline’s near-term fleet growth strategy.
“We would like to thank Royal Air Maroc for choosing DAE as a partner for this significant fleet expansion project,” DAE Chief Executive Officer Firoz Tarapore said in a statement. He added that Morocco was emerging as a fast-growing tourism and business hub in Africa, supported by the expansion of Royal Air Maroc’s air connectivity.
Royal Air Maroc Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Abdelhamid Addou said the agreement aligned with the airline’s ambition to develop Casablanca into a global connecting hub.
“The Boeing 737-8 aircraft will strengthen our network development capabilities, enabling new route launches and increased frequencies, while improving operational efficiency,” Addou said.
Royal Air Maroc currently operates 13 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Ten were delivered in 2025, with an additional aircraft received in January 2026. The airline has leased aircraft from DAE, Air Lease Corporation and Avolon to support short-term capacity growth.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 58th General Assembly of the Organization of Arab Air Carriers (OAAC) in Rabat on November 4, 2025, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Abdelhamid Addou, confirmed that the fleet expansion tender launched in April 2024 is now in its final stages.
The carrier plans to take delivery of up to 15 new aircraft per year from 2028 under a broader fleet renewal program covering nearly 200 aircraft through 2037, up from a current fleet of about 60 aircraft. Leasing remains a key pillar of its interim expansion strategy. RAM’s expansion forms part of the 2023–2037 program contract signed in July 2023 between CEO Addou and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.
DAE said it owns, manages or has commitments to own or manage around 750 aircraft, including 237 Boeing aircraft, and plans to continue expanding its portfolio to meet rising global demand.
