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As published in Arabian Business

Upcycling aviation history: Wings Craft Shop’s mission for innovation and sustainability

Wings Craft Shop transforms retired aircraft parts into functional art, blending sustainability with aviation heritage to create unique and collectible designs

Upcycling is one of the vital practices in combatting waste and environmental degradation. Wings Craft Shop, a brand based in the United Arab Emirates, takes the concept of reimagining discarded materials into beautiful, functional art to another level. It turns reclaimed aviation parts into unique furniture, décor, and gifts, allowing people to welcome a slice of aviation history into everyday spaces.

Founder Fawaz Mohammad Ali created the brand to honour the legacy of aviation and champion environmental responsibility. Fawaz, born and raised in the UAE, ventured into aviation in 2004 after completing his engineering studies in India. He initially worked with a business aviation firm and later advanced through roles in a leading business aviation organisation and a renowned American aerospace company. These experiences allowed him to gather decades of hands-on experience in aircraft maintenance and engineering.

Founder Fawaz Mohammad Ali created the brand to honour the legacy of aviation and champion environmental responsibility. Fawaz, born and raised in the UAE, ventured into aviation in 2004 after completing his engineering studies in India. He initially worked with a business aviation firm and later advanced through roles in a leading business aviation organisation and a renowned American aerospace company. These experiences allowed him to gather decades of hands-on experience in aircraft maintenance and engineering.

Fawaz has always been a keen observer. He realised that unserviceable and sometimes perfectly functional aircraft parts were routinely discarded after their service life. This prompted an “aha” moment for him. He pondered: “Why not repurpose these components into art and functional décor?” He did exactly this and used his home garage to experiment and refine his designs.

Fawaz pitched his concept in a competitive funding contest for startups that he had serendipitously heard of on the radio. Carrying with him his tangible prototypes and genuine passion, Fawaz secured the first prize. Of course, the journey doesn’t stop at securing funding. Fawaz had to pour in personal savings and kickstart the business in a modest workshop in Ajman while still holding down a day job. Hard work indeed pays off. Today, Wings Craft Shop serves local markets and ships products worldwide.

“As an engineer, I know just how many hours of research, design, and trial go into every aircraft,” Fawaz shares. “Components are simply discarded when they fail. But I believe every piece deserves a second chance to continue telling its story. That’s why, at Wings Craft, we breathe new life into these forgotten fragments. We repurpose something that seems useless into something remarkable.”
Aviation enthusiasts and frequent flyers appreciate Fawaz’s sentiment. Indeed, while not everyone can own a whole aircraft, with Wings Craft Shop, people can have a tangible piece of it. This emotional connection is evident in each of the company’s meticulously crafted items, from home décor and personalised gifts to innovative art installations and custom projects.
Customers also choose Wings Craft because of its commitment to reducing waste and giving new purpose to materials that would only contribute to environmental challenges. Over 80 per cent of an aircraft’s components can now be recycled, but the traditional recycling methods remain costly, energy-intensive, and environmentally unfriendly. The scrapping process (especially for complex composites and hazardous materials) can cost tens of thousands of dollars per aircraft. Wings Craft Shop mitigates the environmental and financial effects of conventional recycling and scrapping practices by upcycling these materials instead.
A project that demonstrates Wings Craft’s innovative approach is its collaboration with a major regional airline’s upcycling initiative. Wings Craft Shop repurposed parts of the airline’s first retired A380 by turning components such as an aircraft main wheel, wing fuel panels, and an iconic gold-plated logo into bespoke, collectable pieces.
The company’s work on the IL-76 Project is also noteworthy. Fawaz personally sourced components from the decommissioned Soviet-era cargo plane in Umm Al Quwain. Aviation fans were able to own a piece of history with Wings Craft’s limited edition, pocket-sized plane tags, which are laser-etched with the aircraft’s details.
Wings Craft Shop’s conversation pieces that embody innovation, sustainability, and a passion for aviation have attracted significant interest from both individual collectors and corporate clients, establishing the brands’ impact on sustainable craftsmanship in the Middle East.
As Wings Craft Shop grows, Fawaz ensures the company stays committed to sustainability and the preservation of invaluable pieces of aviation history. Such notable work has led the founder to be celebrated as one of the honoured leaders at the Next MasterMind Awards 2025, where he obtained the Outstanding Leadership in Sustainable Aviation, Art, and Interior Excellence award.
Fawaz Mohammad Ali states: “Our vision is to become a global leader in sustainable craftsmanship. Aviation is woven into our identity here in the UAE, so we aim to turn aircraft pieces into innovative, eco-friendly masterpieces that inspire.”

Source: Arabian Business

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