Thousands of jobs ranging from mechanics and engineers to administrators and specialists will be created in United Arab Emirates. This comes in as Emirates Airline on Monday broke ground on a $5.1 billion (Dh18.7 billion) engineering mega-complex at Dubai South.

The airline’s Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer Adel Al Redha spoke to Gulf News about the scale of the project. The project is said to be one the most ambitious aircraft maintenance and overhaul facilities in the world. This therefore means that there will be significant employment at every level once the construction is expected to be completed by mid-2030.

“The facility of this scale will attract more jobs locally and internationally at different levels and different skills. We’re talking about professionals in engineering, maintenance activities and mechanics, administrators and so on. So, the opportunity will be great and there will be many job offers,” he said on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony.

World’s Biggest of its Kind

The facility covers an area of 1.1 million square metres. This makes it one of the largest buildings in the world by volume and the largest steel structure in the GCC. Additionally, the complex will be capable of servicing 28 wide-body aircraft simultaneously. This feature will make it the world’s only hangar complex with that ability.

Moreover, it will also house the largest free-span hangar in the world at 285 metres wide and the largest dedicated landing gear workshop on the planet.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the project was held on Monday at Dubai South (DWC airport). It was attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group, Sir Tim Clark. Also it was attended by President of Emirates Airline,Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, and Dai Hegen, Chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC). CRCC has been appointed to deliver the project alongside Artelia as project consultants.

Also, Sheikh Ahmed and Dai Hegen signed the agreements for the project.

Sheikh Ahmed described the ambitious investment as a defining moment. “Today’s groundbreaking for the US$5.1 billion engineering facility is a strategic step forward in Dubai’s future-focused aviation ambitions,” he said.

“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,” he added.

What Makes New Emirates Engineering Facility Unique

What sets makes this facility unique from a conventional MRO hub is the breadth of what it will be able to do. Additionally, Redha stated that the complex goes well beyond routine maintenance, opening up new engineering possibilities for the airline and the wider industry.

The move indicates a broader shift in the industry, airlines are no longer relying solely on buying new jets. However, they are investing in engineering infrastructure that can adapt frequently to the existing fleets for different commercial needs.

Among the facility’s unique features are two state-of-the-art paint hangars that are capable of handling Emirates’ fleet of wide-body aircraft, with extended capacity to service narrow-body jets as well. This is a key addition given the well-documented global shortage of aircraft painting facilities.

Facilities

The complex will also include 77,000 square metres of dedicated workshop space for repairs and maintenance. Additionally, it will include 380,000 sq metres of storage and logistics capacity and a 50,000 sq metre administrative building for Emirates Engineering. Lastly, it will also have 15,000 square metres of training facilities.

All project facilities are targeting a LEED Platinum sustainability rating. They will have solar panels installed across the rooftops as part of a broader green commitment.

Part of Dubai’s Broader Vision

The project directly supports Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33. Additionally, it reinstates the emirate’s standing as a global aviation capital.

Khalifa Al Zaffin stated that the facility stands central to Dubai South’s broader vision. “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. Furthermore, 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,” he said.

Moreover, the hangar complex will initially begin servicing aircraft requiring heavy maintenance and spillover projects from Emirates Engineering Centre at Dubai International Airport. This will be before expanding to its full operational capacity.

Also, the project strengthens Dubai’s position as one of the world’s leading aviation engineering and maintenance hubs with capabilities to support complex aircraft transformations on a global scale.

New Emirates Engineering Facility Factsheet

Project Value: $5.1 Billion

Total Footprint: 1.1 Million m²

Location: Dubai South / Dubai World Central (DWC), adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai, UAE

Projected Completion: Mid-2030 (Phase 1 operational targets)

Key Stakeholders:

• Developer: Emirates Airline & Group
• Main Contractor: China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC)
• Project Consultants: Artelia and ADP Ingénierie

Technical and Architectural Features

• World-Record Capacity: The complex is designed to service 28 wide-body aircraft simultaneously. This will make it the only hangar facility globally with this capacity.
• Largest Free-Span Hangar: Features the world’s widest free-span hangar door structure at 285 meters wide.
• Structural Scale: Also, it ranks as one of the largest buildings in the world. This is in terms of volume and stands as the largest steel structure in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
• Dedicated Workshops: Houses the planet’s largest dedicated landing gear workshop, alongside roughly 20 specialized support workshops.
• Code F Capabilities: The initial operational phase features specialized maintenance. Moreover, it will feature paint hangars built specifically to accommodate Code F aircraft.

Scope of Work and Capabilities

• Heavy and Light Maintenance: Scheduled minor and major heavy maintenance checks (C and D checks) requiring longer aircraft ground times.
• Cabin Conversions and Retrofits: Full-scale aircraft cabin interior fit-outs, systemic upgrades, and full-fleet cabin modernizations.
• Bespoke Aircraft Painting: Advanced, climate-controlled paint hangars optimized for efficiency and eco-friendly finishes.
• Engine Maintenance and Testing: Dedicated engine repair workshops equipped with an advanced engine run-up facility and diagnostic systems.

Sustainability and Green Infrastructure

• Renewable Energy: Extensive rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays across the entire campus to offset high-load industrial power usage.
• Resource Conservation: Dedicated closed-loop recycling infrastructure engineered specifically for industrial wastewater and mechanical oils.
• Green Building Materials: Use of eco-certified materials throughout construction to reduce the structural carbon footprint.