Emirates has completed a 12-year Shariah-compliant French lease financing for two new Airbus A350-900 aircraft it is acquiring in 2026, the airline said on Monday.

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) and Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking (Natixis CIB) acted as Islamic financiers and arrangers, according to an Emirates press release. The release did not disclose the value of the deal.

The structure combines two financing frameworks that are typically arranged separately, aligning the features of a French lease with Shariah principles in a single transaction, Emirates said. It said the deal supports its ongoing fleet expansion strategy and shows the growing versatility of Shariah-compliant structures in global aviation finance.

The airline said the transaction shows how carriers can tap alternative and diversified pools of capital, and described it as a repeatable blueprint for future aviation financings that seek to bring the two frameworks together while meeting Islamic law requirements.

"Emirates continues to pursue diverse solutions and innovative funding structures as part of our long-term financing strategy," said Derek Blaney, Acting Chief Financial Officer at Emirates Group. He said the deal combines Islamic finance with a French lease structure, helps diversify funding sources and "sets a precedent for future aircraft financing".

Naveed Ali, Chief of Corporate Banking at DIB, said the transaction reflects the growing sophistication and international relevance of Islamic finance. He said DIB acted as Islamic financier, arranger and Shariah structurer, and that its Shariah team helped align the relevant requirements of the French lease structure with Shariah standards.

Jean Chedeville, Head of Transportation Finance at Natixis CIB, said the deal shows the bank's ability to develop tailored financing solutions. He described it as "another tailored aircraft delivery funding solution" for Emirates and a unique project in partnership with DIB.

DIB, established in 1975, describes itself as the largest Islamic bank in the UAE by assets, with group assets exceeding $118 billion. Natixis CIB, part of France's Groupe BPCE, provides advisory, financing and capital markets services in about 30 countries