Phoenix Aviation to build a 35,000 sq m widebody MRO hangar at Dubai South, due in early 2029

Dubai South has signed an agreement with Phoenix Aviation for a new airside plot at Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) in Dubai. The deal was signed at MRO Europe in Amsterdam and announced on 30 October 2026. Phoenix Aviation will build a widebody maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre on the plot. Completion is planned for the first quarter of 2029.

What is being built

The plan has four parts:

• A 35,000 square metre hangar sized for three widebody aircraft at once, including types such as the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350
• An 18,000 square metre delivery centre for aircraft handovers and storage
• 15,000 square metres of workshops and stores
• 3,000 square metres of offices

The centre will do widebody MRO, cabin modifications and completions, and cargo conversions. It will also give space to aircraft manufacturers and specialist service providers. The value of the investment was not disclosed.

A second hangar at the hub

Phoenix Aviation already runs an MRO hangar at MBRAH that can take an Airbus A380. The new building brings its hangar count at the hub to two. The company says the site will serve airlines across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Gilles Negre, founder and chairman of Phoenix Aviation, said the expansion is "designed to address growing demand for wide-body aircraft services and bring together complementary capabilities in one location."

The agreement was signed in the presence of Nabil Alkindi, Group CEO of Dubai South, and Julian Ehrhard, President and CEO of Phoenix Aviation. Alkindi said the deal supports Dubai South's aim of building an integrated aviation ecosystem that attracts international investment.

Why it matters

Widebody fleets in the Middle East keep growing, and heavy checks need large hangars. A hangar that fits three big aircraft adds capacity next to Al Maktoum International Airport. It also brings work for tooling, parts and logistics suppliers around Dubai South.

On The Flying Engineer

Dubai South has a page in our directory: Dubai South. The agreement was signed at MRO Europe 2026. The next regional show is MRO Middle East 2027 in Dubai in February. To find MRO providers by country, see our maintenance companies page.

Source: Dubai South newsroom