Dubai South Signs Phoenix Aviation for 71,000-Square-Meter Airside Facility at Aerospace Hub
Dubai South has signed an agreement with Phoenix Aviation for a new airside plot at Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH), where the company plans to develop a 71,000-square-meter industrial facility for wide-body aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), cabin modifications and completion, and cargo conversion. The project is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2029.
The signing ceremony took place during MRO Europe in the presence of Nabil Alkindi, Group CEO of Dubai South, and Julian Ehrhard, President and CEO of Phoenix Aviation, along with other senior executives from both organizations. Dubai South describes itself as the largest single urban master development focused on aviation, logistics and real estate.
Phoenix Aviation Facility: Components and Specifications
The development covers approximately 764,000 square feet in total and will comprise four main components:
- A 35,000-square-meter aircraft hangar, designed to accommodate three wide-body aircraft, including types such as the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350.
- An 18,000-square-meter delivery center for aircraft handovers and storage.
- 15,000 square meters of workshops and stores.
- 3,000 square meters of offices.
The site is an airside plot within MBRAH in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The facility is intended to support growing demand for specialized aviation services.
Expansion of Phoenix Aviation at Dubai South
The new development will bring Phoenix Aviation's total number of hangars at MBRAH to two, alongside its existing A380-compatible MRO hangar. Dubai South said the expansion will add capacity and services for airlines across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Gilles Negre, Founder and Chairman of Phoenix Aviation, said: "Our expansion at Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub is designed to address growing demand for wide-body aircraft services and bring together complementary capabilities in one location. 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 us to serve a broader range of international airlines and provide space for aircraft manufacturers and specialist service providers."
Dubai South's Aviation Ecosystem Strategy
Nabil Alkindi said: "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. 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 Phoenix Aviation project is part of a wider build-out at MBRAH. The hub has announced a 24,900-square-meter Light Industrial and Maintenance Complex containing 33 purpose-built units, with completion expected in the third quarter of 2027. A separate Suppliers Complex is planned with 88 leasable units across three levels, targeting maintenance providers, aircraft-parts traders, aerospace companies, start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises. RH Aero Systems has also opened a regional service center of approximately 2,800 square meters, divided into four 700-square-meter bays, for ground-support equipment and engine and airframe tooling services.
Market Context for Aviation-Focused Industrial Real Estate
Together, the projects point to a layered aerospace real estate platform at Dubai South that combines large airside hangars, supplier space, workshops, maintenance units and specialized support facilities. The Phoenix Aviation facility, with its planned support for next-generation wide-body types such as the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350, adds delivery, storage, workshop and office capacity around the hangar.
Because the facility depends on airside access, hangar clearances and aircraft-handling capability, it differs from conventional warehouse or logistics space. With completion set for Q1 2029, the Phoenix Aviation project follows the Light Industrial and Maintenance Complex and Suppliers Complex developments announced at the hub.
Sources
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