Embraer Drops Saudi C-390 FACO Offer For UAE Partnership

Steve Trimble November 17, 2025

DUBAI—Embraer has withdrawn a two-year-old proposal to open a final assembly center in Saudi Arabia for the C-390 Millennium in favor of offering a regional completion center for the airlifter in the UAE.

“To be honest with you, there is no space to have two completion centers in the region,” Embraer Defense and Security CEO Bosco da Costa Jr. said minutes after announcing the proposed C-390 center of excellence in the UAE.

In 2023, Embraer signed an agreement with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), offering final assembly, maintenance and support in the Kingdom for the C-390 in the event of a large order from Riyadh. The Brazilian manufacturer faced a rival bid from the U.S.-made Lockheed Martin C-130J.

“We have a strong relationship in Saudi Arabia, and a good relationship here [in the UAE] as well. But ... my perspective is that for the C-390, there is no way to have two completion centers in the region,” Costa reiterated.

Embraer continues to stand by commitments to open final assembly and check out facilities in the U.S. and India, if either country signs a large order for C-390s, Costa said.

Earlier on Nov. 17, Embraer signed agreements with two Abu Dhabi-based companies: MRO specialist Ammroc and Global Aerospace Logistics. Both signed on to support the C-390 in the event of an order from the UAE armed forces.

“We do believe that the C-390 could play a very important role here in UAE. And of course, we are in touch. We are offering this platform to UAE Air Force,” Costa said.

A rendering of the proposed C-390 Center of Excellence in the UAE showed a campus of eight buildings, including an office building and seven hangars, with 21 C-390s placed outside of the buildings.