Dubai World Central Aviation City, the aviation project launched within Dubai World Central (DWC), the 140 square kilometres urban aviation, multi-phased development in Jebel Ali in Dubai, has signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with Gulf Aerospace Company (GACO), an UAE based company, to build its state of the art maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility.

 

Under the MoU signed during the Dubai Air Show 2007, Gulf Aerospace Company will lease a 23,960 square meter (MRO) facility within DWC Aviation City’s free zone area.

"DWC Aviation City will have the largest MRO facility in the world and GACO's US$ 50 million facilities will be part of this development which will add value to the international MRO industry and our value proposition," said Abdulla Al Qurashi, CEO, DWC Aviation City.

"Gulf Aerospace Company will build its own hangar and facilities within Aviation City and will also be given air side and land side access to the adjacent Al Maktoum International Airport. This will provide direct access to tenants, reducing turnaround time and improving customer service," added Al Qurashi.

DWC Aviation City is strategically located to access to emerging markets as well as servicing the fast growing Middle East market.

"We will use our MRO facility to provide equipment and spare parts to civil, commercial aircraft. It will also provide customers with a wide range of reliable operational, logistical and technical support," said Ahmed Abdullah Al Shafar, Chairman of Gulf Aerospace Company.

In order to get Construction on the AED 5 billion (US$ 1.4 billion) DWC Aviation City has already commenced.

Besides MRO facilities, DWC Aviation City will also feature a Heliport Zone, an Educational and Academic Zone, an Industrial Zone and a hub for aircraft component and parts supply.

Al Maktoum International Airport goes live with initial operations by end-2008 and has been designed to handle in excess of 120 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo annually. Infrastructure costs for Dubai World Central currently stand at AED 120 billion (US$ 33 billion).