EDGE Group has announced the appointment of Saif Ali Al Dahbashi to the position of chief executive officer at Al Taif, its military maintenance and support entity. The appointment came in April 2022 and positioned Al Dahbashi to lead operations at the UAE's leading provider of lifecycle support for military land platforms and systems.
Al Dahbashi assumed the CEO role after serving as chief operating officer at Al Taif. In his new position, he is responsible for managing business operations and playing a dynamic role in shaping the strategic direction of the company by implementing its vision and mission. Mansour AlMulla, managing director and CEO of EDGE Group at the time, said the appointment would enable Al Dahbashi to use his considerable industry experience and leadership skills to steer business operations and deliver growth in line with Al Taif's overall vision and objectives. AlMulla added that a major pillar of EDGE strategy was the continued support and development of the UAE's sovereign capabilities as the country looks to become a global hub of advanced technologies and defence.
Al Dahbashi brought 17 years of experience in shaping and implementing large-scale transformational programmes across major commercial organisations. Prior to joining Al Taif, he served as vice president at Strata Manufacturing in Al Ain, where he was tasked with manufacturing operations and operational strategy for the aerospace composite structure facility. He also served as head of production at Strata, supervising production activities including fabrication, assembly, CNC machining and production planning. Earlier, in 2009, Al Dahbashi held a role in aerospace asset management and financial overviews at Mubadala Investment Company. He holds a Master of Science in Information Technology with a graduate certification in Computer Security and Information Assurance from Marymount University.
Al Taif, established in 2006, is part of the Land division within EDGE Group's Platforms and Systems cluster. The company is the leading UAE in-country provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul services and comprehensive lifecycle support for land platforms, heavy utility vehicles and ground support equipment. It specialises in supply chain services, technical training, engineering and development services, with a roster of over 1,200 employees providing end-to-end solutions to the UAE Armed Forces. The company conducts vehicle and component rebuild, refurbishment and upgrades, as well as interior and exterior bodywork, painting and welding, and provides engineering solutions and technology integration across a wide range of defence platforms and systems.
The appointment reflected EDGE Group's broader strategy to strengthen the UAE's sovereign defence capabilities. By promoting an executive with proven experience in large-scale transformation and aerospace operations to lead a critical military support entity, the move signals EDGE's commitment to operational excellence in lifecycle support for the nation's land-based defence assets. The hire fits the company's stated direction of developing sovereign capabilities and positioning the UAE as a hub for advanced defence technologies.
