Emirates has laid the foundation stone for its new engineering center complex in Dubai South, marking the start of a major strategic project valued at USD 5.1 billion, equivalent to AED 18.7 billion. The new facility is expected to become one of the most advanced engineering complexes in the world for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, underlining the importance of the project within the airline’s plans to expand its technical infrastructure and support the future growth of its fleet.
The construction work will be carried out by China Railway Construction Corporation, one of the leading global companies specializing in major infrastructure projects. Artelia will provide consultancy services and supervise the different stages of the project.
Located in Dubai South, the new Emirates Engineering Center complex will cover a total area of around 1.1 million square meters. Once completed, it is expected to rank among the world’s largest buildings by volume and will also be the largest steel structure in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
The complex will include a first-of-its-kind aircraft hangar capable of handling maintenance work on 28 wide-body aircraft at the same time. It will also feature two dedicated aircraft paint hangars, supporting the airline’s growing need for advanced technical services.
Among the key components of the project is a vast column-free aircraft hangar with a width of up to 285 meters. The complex will also include a specialized workshop for landing gear maintenance, as well as 77,000 square meters allocated for maintenance and repair operations.
The project will provide storage and logistics facilities with a capacity of up to 380,000 square meters. In addition, the two advanced paint hangars will be designed to serve wide-body aircraft, with added capability to handle narrow-body aircraft when required.
The technical facilities will be integrated with a modern administrative building dedicated to the Emirates Engineering Center. This building will offer 50,000 square meters of office space, along with 15,000 square meters for training facilities. The project will also include a dedicated facility to manage and regulate access to the airport apron.
Construction is scheduled to be completed by mid-2030. Once the first phase of the hangar complex becomes operational, the center will begin providing heavy maintenance services for aircraft, while also supporting operations by absorbing some of the work currently handled by the Emirates Engineering Center at Dubai International Airport.
The new project will further strengthen Dubai’s position as a major hub for aviation and related engineering services. It will also enhance Emirates’ ability to manage aircraft maintenance more efficiently as the airline continues to expand its fleet and global network.
