Emirates Airlines, the world's largest international airline, announced today, Tuesday, a substantial investment of $950 million to construct a state-of-the-art engineering facility in Dubai World Central. The engineering facility will cover an area of one million square meters, making it the largest and most advanced facility operated by any airline globally, significantly boosting Dubai's world-class aviation infrastructure.
The facility is specifically designed to support Emirates Airlines' fleet and operational requirements through the 2040s. It will also serve as a center of excellence for commercial aviation engineering services in the Middle East, with the potential to provide backup capacity for other airline operators.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airlines and the Group, stated, "This significant investment is a testament to our confidence in the future growth of Emirates Airlines and the aviation sector in general. The new facility will allow Emirates to achieve complete self-sufficiency regarding routine, light, and heavy maintenance requirements and all engineering needs for our fleet of aircraft. It will also provide us with operational stability, flexibility, and quality assurance. With the continued growth of the aviation sector in the region, Emirates' new engineering center will also play a vital role as a center of excellence, attracting participation from global players across the aviation supply chain, providing thousands of technical jobs, and adding value to the economy of Dubai."
The new Emirates engineering center will be equipped to handle a full range of specialized aircraft engineering services, from routine inspections to painting, light to heavy maintenance programs, engine repairs and testing, and complete cabin interior outfitting and aircraft modifications for various uses.
Ali Mubarak Al Sory, Executive Vice President of Facilities, Projects, Procurement, and Supply Chain at the Emirates Group, mentioned that construction for the first phase is expected to begin in 2024 and conclude in 2027. Arrangements have been made for further expansion in the future, as capacity is expected to double in the second phase, in line with the growth of the Emirates fleet and operational requirements.
The new Emirates engineering center places sustainability at the heart of its design, including the use of green building materials throughout the facilities, installing solar panels on roofs, and creating oil recycling and wastewater systems.
The first phase of the project includes the construction of 8 maintenance hangars and one paint hangar, all of which can accommodate commercial aircraft up to code F (A380), an engine operations facility, approximately 20 support workshops, vast storage facilities, and administrative offices.
The existing Emirates engineering center at Dubai International Airport will continue to support the airline's operations, while the new facility at Dubai World Central will initially handle any additional requirements and heavy maintenance programs that involve extended ground time for aircraft.
Emirates Airlines has appointed "ADP Ingénierie," a company specialized in airport construction, as consultants for the project.
