Emirates has started construction of a US$5.1 billion engineering complex at Dubai South’s Al Maktoum International Airport, a project the airline says will become the world’s largest and most advanced aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility.
The development will cover about 1.1 million square meters, making it one of the largest buildings globally by volume and the largest steel structure in the GCC. The centerpiece is a hangar system capable of accommodating 28 widebody aircraft simultaneously, described as the only complex of its kind, alongside two dedicated paint hangars.
According to Emirates, the site will include the world’s largest free-span hangar at 285 meters wide and the largest dedicated landing gear workshop. Plans also call for 77,000 square meters of workshop space for repairs and maintenance, 380,000 square meters of storage and logistics facilities, a 50,000-square-meter administrative building for Emirates Engineering, and 15,000 square meters of training facilities.
The complex is being built by China Railway Construction Corporation, with Artelia as project consultant. Facilities are targeting LEED Platinum environmental certification, including extensive rooftop solar installation. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2030, with the hangar complex initially handling heavy maintenance and overflow work from Emirates’ existing engineering center at Dubai International Airport.