Emirates broke ground on a $5.1 billion engineering complex at Dubai South on May 18, marking the start of construction on what the airline says will be the world’s most advanced maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility.
The complex will cover 1.1 million square metres, making it one of the largest buildings in the world by volume and the largest steel structure in the GCC, according to Emirates.
Its centrepiece is a hangar capable of servicing 28 wide-body aircraft simultaneously – a configuration Emirates claims is the only one of its kind in the world. The facility will also house what Emirates describes as the largest dedicated landing gear workshop globally, the largest free-span hangar in the world at 285 metres wide, two paint hangars, 77,000 sq. metres of workshop space, and 380,000 sq. metres of storage and logistics capacity. A separate administrative building will provide 50,000 sq. metres of office space and 15,000 sq. metres of training facilities.
China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has been appointed as the main contractor, with Artelia serving as project consultants. Construction is expected to complete by mid-2030, at which point the hangar complex will initially take on heavy maintenance work and overflow projects from Emirates Engineering’s existing centre at Dubai International Airport.
“Today’s groundbreaking for the US$ 5.1 billion engineering facility is a strategic step forward in Dubai’s future-focused aviation ambitions. The new facility strengthens Emirates Engineering’s vertical integration strategy by bringing more skills, infrastructure, parts production, and specialist capabilities under one roof, while positioning the airline to serve as a strategic engineering partner for the future requirements of the regional and global aviation industry. This latest investment also aligns directly with Dubai Economic Agenda D33, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global economic hub and centre of aviation excellence, and lays the foundations for the next chapter of growth for Dubai, the UAE and the wider MRO industry,” Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group said in a statement.
“At Dubai South, our mandate is aligned with the vision of our wise leadership to further strengthen Dubai’s position as the aviation capital of the world through the development of an integrated ecosystem that supports the future needs of the global aviation sector. The groundbreaking of this world-class facility marks another milestone in advancing the aviation infrastructure surrounding Al Maktoum International Airport, which is set to become the largest once completed. This project will play a key role in enhancing Dubai’s capabilities to cater to the growing demand for advanced aviation services and maintenance solutions, while reinforcing the emirate’s position as a global benchmark for aviation excellence, innovation, and long-term industry growth,” Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South added.
“As an important milestone reflecting the good-neighbourly friendship and practical cooperation between China and the UAE, this project fully aligns with the consensus reached by the two heads of state and Dubai’s economic development vision, and demonstrates Emirates’ high recognition of CRCC’s comprehensive strength and brand reputation. As the main contractor, we will uphold our core values, mobilize premium resources and assemble a professional team to deliver high-standard construction, efficient progress and quality results, striving to build a model project for China-UAE cooperation and contribute our full strength to deepening bilateral economic and trade ties and building a China-UAE community with a shared future,” Dai Hegen, Chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited further explained.
All project facilities are targeting LEED Platinum certification, with solar panels to be installed across rooftops as part of the complex’s sustainability commitments.
