# Deni Defends Bosaso Airport Handover to UAE Firm

> On 26 September 2019 Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni said Bosaso airport had been handed to an unnamed UAE company…

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 30 September 2026
- Format: News story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Business and Costs
- Tags: estimating, underbidding
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/deni-defends-bosaso-airport-transfer

## Key points

- Somali Dispatch reported on 26 September 2019 that President Deni said Bosaso airport had been handed over to an unnamed UAE-based company.
- Deni defended the decision by arguing Puntland needs investment regardless of origin, and expressed confidence the company could attract international flights.
- The report does not establish that the transfer has since been implemented, nor whether the Federal Government supports it.

On 26 September 2019, Somali Dispatch reported that Puntland State of Somalia President Said Abdullahi Deni said Bosaso airport had been handed over to a UAE-based company. President Deni did not name the company, according to the report.

Speaking in Garowe, Deni defended the decision to hand over control of the airport, saying the country needed investment to develop regardless of where it comes from, Somali Dispatch reported. He expressed confidence that the unnamed company would have the financial strength to invest in the airport and attract international flights to Puntland.

The report also noted that funding for the Port of Bosaso, managed by DP World, had not yet begun. It was not yet known whether the Federal Government of Somalia would support the airport move, given that it never gave its blessing to the DP World takeover of Bosaso port, Somali Dispatch reported.

The report does not establish that the airport transfer has since been implemented. It also provides no details on financial terms, timelines, or any Federal Government response after 26 September 2019. No evidence in the report indicates that the unnamed UAE-based company has actually invested or attracted international flights. The Federal Government of Somalia has not been documented as supporting the move. The specific company name remains unknown.

## Questions

### Who did President Deni say Bosaso airport was handed over to?

President Deni said Bosaso airport was handed over to a UAE-based company, but he did not name the company.

### What reason did President Deni give for the handover?

Deni defended the decision by saying the country needed investment to develop regardless of where it comes from.

### Has the Federal Government of Somalia supported the move?

As of the 26 September 2019 report, it was not yet known if the Federal Government would support the move. There is no later evidence in the report.

## Sources

- [Pres. Deni strongly defends decision to transfer Bosaso airport](https://www.somalidispatch.com/featured/pres-deni-strongly-defends-decision-to-transfer-bosaso-airport/) — Somali Dispatch, 2019-09-26