Construction work has begun on a new colossal engineering facility for Emirates airline at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), which includes a hangar with capacity for 28 widebody aircraft. The $5.1-billion engineering complex is being built by China Railway Construction Corporation.

According to Emirates, the facility will span 1.1 million sq m, making it “one of the largest buildings in the world by volume and the largest steel structure” in the Gulf region. 

Shaikh Ahmed described the groundbreaking for the engineering facility as a strategic step forward in Dubai’s future-focused aviation ambitions.

Emirates’ new engineering facility will span 1.1 million sq m.

“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.”

Its largest free-span hangar will stretch 285 m, making it the largest in the world, according to the airline. There will also be two painting hangars, 77,000 sq m of dedicated workshop space for repairs and maintenance, plus 380,000 sq m of storage and logistics capacity.

The maintenance, repairs, and overhaul (MRO) facility is expected to be completed by the middle of 2030. The hangar complex will initially start servicing aircraft requiring heavy maintenance and spillover projects from the Emirates Engineering Centre at Dubai International Airport (DXB).