Phoenix Aviation expands at Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub with new wide-body MRO facility

A major new hangar complex will deepen Dubai South's position as a global centre for aircraft maintenance and specialised aviation services, attracting international airlines and manufacturers.

The aviation ecosystem at Dubai South continues to mature. Phoenix Aviation, a specialist in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, has committed to a significant expansion at Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub, signing an agreement to develop a comprehensive new airside facility designed to serve the world’s largest wide-body aircraft and the airlines that operate them.

The project, scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2029, will comprise a 35,000-square-metre hangar engineered to accommodate three wide-body aircraft simultaneously, including the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350. Supporting this central hangar will be an 18,000-square-metre delivery centre for aircraft handovers and storage, 15,000 square metres of workshops and specialist stores, and 3,000 square metres of administrative and technical offices. The facility will establish what Phoenix Aviation describes as a centre of excellence for wide-body aircraft maintenance, cabin modifications, aircraft completion and cargo conversion.

Nabil Alkindi, Group CEO of Dubai South, characterised the agreement as evidence of the master development’s growing magnetism for international aviation enterprises. “This agreement advances our mandate to develop an integrated aviation ecosystem that attracts international investment and strengthens Dubai’s role in the global aerospace industry,” he remarked. “Phoenix Aviation’s expansion reflects confidence in Dubai South’s long-term development plans and the offering at Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub. Our efforts remain aligned with our wise leadership’s vision to position Dubai as the aviation capital of the world.”

The expansion will represent Phoenix Aviation’s second hangar operation at the hub, complementing its existing A380-compatible MRO hangar. Gilles Negre, Founder and Chairman of Phoenix Aviation, noted that the facility responds to a broadening demand for wide-body aircraft services across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. “Our expansion at MBRAH is designed to address growing demand for wide-body aircraft services and bring together complementary capabilities in one location,” he said. “With facilities planned around the latest aircraft technologies, specialised tooling and extensive logistics areas, our focus is on delivering quality, improving operational efficiency and reducing aircraft ground time.”

The development will enable the operator to serve a wider constellation of international airlines whilst creating space for aircraft manufacturers and specialist service providers to co-locate, further enriching the ecosystem at Dubai South. This follows the recent opening of flydubai’s state-of-the-art Aircraft Maintenance Centre at Dubai South, which similarly underscores the hub’s expanding technical capabilities.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

Dubai South’s evolution as an integrated aviation destination continues to reinforce the UAE’s position as a global nexus for aerospace and logistics. Each new facility strengthens the technical and commercial infrastructure that attracts international investment and talent, creating high-skilled employment opportunities and supporting the emirate’s economic diversification beyond tourism and oil.

The concentration of world-class maintenance and overhaul capacity at Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub serves the broader regional strategy of positioning the UAE as indispensable to global aviation operations. As airlines and manufacturers deepen their presence here, they become more integrated into the local ecosystem, fostering partnerships with educational institutions, technology providers and support services that cascade benefits throughout the economy.

Source: WAM

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