DUBAI – Dubai-based airline flydubai is on track to complete construction of its US$190 million Aircraft Maintenance Centre at Dubai South by the end of 2026, with operations expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
The airline’s senior management team recently inspected progress at the facility, which is being developed at the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub, adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport.
The inspection was led by Chief Executive Officer Ghaith Al Ghaith, accompanied by Chief Commercial Officer Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Procurement and Technology Officer Mohammed Hareb AlMheiri, Chief Operations Officer Mick Hills and Chief Financial Officer Francois Oberholzer.
Construction of the centre began in 2025 on a 32,600-square-metre site. Once building work is completed, the project will enter the operational readiness phase, involving systems integration and technical commissioning.
The purpose-built facility will feature heavy maintenance hangars, engineering support workshops, materials management warehouses and administrative offices. It is expected to employ approximately 400 technical professionals.
The centre will enable flydubai to carry out more aircraft maintenance in-house, a move expected to reduce turnaround times, improve fleet availability and strengthen quality control as the airline expands its operations.
The airline also plans to use its Engineering Apprentice Programme (AMEL) to develop a new generation of aviation engineering professionals.
Al Ghaith described the project as a major step towards greater operational self-sufficiency, saying that dedicated in-house maintenance capabilities would provide the airline with greater flexibility, resilience and efficiency.
He said the US$190 million investment supports flydubai’s long-term strategy around Dubai World Central and aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
flydubai currently serves more than 125 destinations and has over 300 aircraft on order. Its future fleet expansion includes 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2028.
The airline also expects to receive 11 Boeing 737 aircraft in 2026, which would bring its fleet to 100 aircraft.
The maintenance centre is expected to strengthen the airline’s technical capabilities while supporting Dubai’s ambitions to expand its aviation and aerospace sectors.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)
