DUBAI—The Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub at Dubai South expects to break ground on five new hangars, most dedicated for maintenance, this year.
That includes a facility for ATS Technics, an EASA line maintenance company in the UAE, which signed a contract with MBR Aerospace Hub for a two-bay facility on March 5 at Aviation Week’s MRO Middle East.
That narrowbody facility should be complete mid-2025, says Tahnoon Saif, CEO of MBR Aerospace Hub.
In addition, flydubai during the Dubai Airshow in November announced plans to build a $190 million facility slated to open in late 2026.
The others include an interior completions center for UUDS Aero, a hangar for private jet company Midline Aviation, and one for Tim Aviation, a Dubai-based investment company.
Private aviation and maintenance are the two areas of the aviation industry that are driving most growth at the Dubai hub. “They’re two distinct industries, but they are competing with each other” in growth, says Saif.
Business aviation traffic has increased “doubled digits” to more than 16,657 movements in 2023, which was an 8% increase over the previous year, says Saif.
The increase in flights is making Al Maktoum International Airport, which is part of Dubai South, one of the “busiest private international private jet hubs,” he adds.
Because of the expansions, “I think before mid-year, we will have to pump in more investment and landside facilities for maintenance,” says Saif.
MBR Aerospace Hub is running out of land, so future maintenance facilities might need to become more vertical to reduce ground space.
The aviation industry around the globe is short of skilled maintenance and engineering people—so the hub also is looking into vocational training opportunities. “It’s the vision of Dubai South and MBR Aerospace hub to become the capital of vocational training in aviation and logistics” for the world, says Saif.
“We’re looking for the right partner for this project to take off.”
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