Latest news with #KhalifaAlZaffin
The National
06-08-2025
- Business
- The National
Heathrow must look to Dubai for inspiration if expansion is ever to take off
Sixty kilometres or so from Dubai International Airport, they are working flat-out, building the world's biggest airport. Khalifa Al Zaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, says Al Maktoum International Airport will be operational in phases with the first set to be operational in 2032. Key contractors are mobilised, construction is proceeding and a contract has been issued to develop a second runway for the new airport. When completed, the initial section will be capable of handling up to 150 million passengers annually. In all, when it is finished, Al Maktoum International will cater for 260 million passengers a year. It's intended to fully replace Dubai International Airport within 10 years. In the UK, they can only look at what is unfolding in Dubai with wonder and envy. The sheer scale, the numbers, the dates – they make the country's own history of airport expansion look anachronistic and desperately cack-handed and cumbersome. They've been arguing about growing Heathrow since 1968. If the third runway is ever built it will see the main London airport accommodate 150 million travellers a year, which just happens to be the same as that first phase of the Al Maktoum International. Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, has set a deadline of 2035 for the new runway to be operational, so three years after Al Maktoum International is up and running. The contrast between the two could not be greater. Still, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ms Reeves insist Heathrow's third runway is to go ahead. But if you were prone to gambling, which would you select as most likely to hit its targets? It's not just the comparison with Dubai that is stark. Other airports have been planned and constructed and expanded all around the world while the UK prevaricates. The UK argues while they get on and do it. Looking at how civil aviation develops and operates elsewhere is not only a statistics game. It matters for a simple reason, that airlines and passengers are examining like-for-likes on a daily basis. Air travel is a global industry; Dubai, London and other destinations are all bound up in international competition. Customers, whether they are companies like the passenger and freight operators, or business and leisure travellers, are scrutinising prices and what they receive for their money. Decades of flight through Heathrow - in pictures At present, the most expensive airport in the world is Heathrow. It is set to become even more costly should the scheme receive approval. Under plans just submitted to the government, Heathrow is reckoning on spending £49 billion ($65.14 billion), which will be recovered from increased landing charges that will in turn be recouped by the airlines from higher fares. Again, Dubai rears its head. The bill for the new Al Maktoum International is projected to come in at £26 billion. By the end, Heathrow will have only three runways compared with Dubai's total of five. Heathrow's funding will be private, reflecting a British way of paying for major infrastructure improvements that effectively encourages spending without financial comeback to the developer. They can "gold-plate" in the knowledge they are not bearing the expense, which ultimately the end user, in this case the air passenger, will cough up. The most glaring example of how this can play out, to the detriment of the consumer, is in the UK water industry. It too was privatised, along with the British Airports Authority, operator of Heathrow, in the Thatcher era. The identical regulatory framework was applied and ever since, the price of water and the profits enjoyed by the water companies – but not the quality of service – has kept on climbing. A similar structure exists and will, barring an unlikely change in the rules, be followed again at Heathrow. Of course, Heathrow is not Dubai. The London airport was built originally in the wrong location, at a West London site, which in today's world of vastly busier air travel is no longer fit for purpose. It abuts the M25, one of Britain and Europe's most congested motorways, and is in a part of the South-East that is criss-crossed by rivers and streams and their valleys. Adding a new runway is a mammoth undertaking, requiring complex engineering and environmental considerations. Heathrow management believes it has found the solution by erecting a tunnel, diverting from the frequently jammed road under the air strip. Cue probable campaigns and protests as wholesale protracted vehicle disruption, despite Heathrow's assurances to the contrary, is almost certain to occur. To do it without would be nothing short of a miracle and few share Heathrow's optimism. What is telling is how a key plank in the UK government's economic growth strategy is allowed to progress in such a manner. According to Ms Reeves, as she announced the government's support for the third runway this year: "These are decisions the national government makes, and this Labour government backs Heathrow expansion, backs the third runway at Heathrow." That is not her fault, it's the UK methodology – same with the water companies. Witness too HS2 where the planned, landmark superfast rail service to the North-West is drastically curtailed and subjected to monumental delay, and the bill spirals ever upwards. A cheaper alternative to the Heathrow plan has been proposed by the self-made billionaire and airport hotels developer, Surinder Arora. His vision encompasses building a shorter runway that does not threaten the M25 and plays to the airlines' preference for smaller long-haul aircraft. Mr Arora, who counts Bechtel in his line-up, is also advocating Heathrow's new terminal would be operated by a company with a proven high-grade record in high-grade airport management to inject competition into the West London set-up. His final sum, for a runway and terminal, is £25 billion, again close to that Dubai £26 billion figure. Mr Starmer and Ms Reeves may stick with Heathrow or as some would regard it, gamble, and pick Mr Arora. Or they could follow previous governments and admit defeat and consign Heathrow's expansion to the drawing board. The difference this time is that it has been made vital to their economic growth strategy. In that sense, presumably, it must happen. But how remains to be seen.
Al Bawaba
04-07-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Dubai South Receives Great Place to Work® Certification, Reflecting Its Outstanding Workplace Culture
Dubai South, the largest single-urban master development focusing on aviation, logistics and real estate has officially been certified as a Great Place to Work®, a globally recognized accolade that underscores the organization's commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and empowering work environment. The certification is a testament to Dubai South's continuous efforts to build a workplace culture that values employee well-being, growth, and collaboration. As one of the leading urban and economic hubs in Dubai, Dubai South has consistently prioritised creating a supportive and engaging atmosphere where employees thrive both professionally and personally. His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, said: "We are proud to receive the Great Place to Work® certification, which reflects our dedication to nurturing a workplace where our people feel valued, motivated, and empowered. At Dubai South, we believe that a strong, people-centric culture is the foundation of our success and the driving force behind our continued growth. This achievement is also in line with our government's vision of fostering positive work environments and promoting a high quality of work-life balance for all employees across the UAE." In her comments, Hafsa AlGargawi, Chief People Management Officer at Dubai South, added: 'This certification reflects the incredible team we have built at Dubai South. It confirms our ongoing commitment to nurturing an environment where every employee feels valued, supported, and inspired to grow. We will continue to invest in our people, their well-being, and their development, as they are the true drivers of our success.' The certification highlights Dubai South's ongoing efforts to ensure that its employees remain at the heart of its vision as it contributes to Dubai's broader economic and development goals. Dubai South is Dubai's largest single urban master development focusing on an aviation and logistics ecosystem that houses the world's largest airport when fully operational, complemented by a multi-modal transport infrastructure connecting air, land and sea. Dubai South aims to create a vibrant living and working community by leveraging its unique aviation, logistics, and real-estate products and services and world-class infrastructure solutions.
Al Bawaba
03-07-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
flydubai breaks ground on new Aircraft Maintenance Centre at Dubai South
flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, has broken ground on its new Aircraft Maintenance Centre at Dubai South. The multimillion dollar facility, set to complete construction in the last quarter of 2026, will ensure an increased level of control and quicker maintenance turnaround for the carrier's growing over 32,600 square metres, the maintenance centre will house an aircraft hangar, support workshops and office buildings. The construction of the Aircraft Maintenance Centre underscores flydubai's dedication to strengthening its inhouse capabilities and reflects the carrier's growing maturity as it expands its fleet and groundbreaking ceremony was attended by a senior delegation led by His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, who joined Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, as well as representatives from the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH).His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, said: 'we are proud to witness the groundbreaking of flydubai's new aircraft maintenance centre at Dubai South, a key milestone that reflects the airline's continued growth and operational advancement. This facility reinforces our commitment to supporting the aviation sector through state-of-the-art infrastructure and to further positioning Dubai as a leading global hub for aviation.'Commenting at the ceremony, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: 'this investment marks a significant milestone for flydubai. Since launching operations in 2009, we have made great strides in enhancing connectivity and driving innovation, and the development of our new Aircraft Maintenance Centre will play a key role in the next chapter of our growth journey. This is a strategic step towards supporting our growing maintenance requirement and capacity as we take delivery of more aircraft, and reaffirms our long-term commitment to innovation, operational efficiency and supporting Dubai's position as a global leader in aviation and business excellence.'The carrier signed an agreement with MBRAH for its first purpose-built Aircraft Maintenance Centre at the 2023 Dubai Airshow. Located in Dubai South, the district offers an aviation and logistics ecosystem that makes it an ideal location for the carrier's facility. The maintenance centre will be situated near Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), set to become the world's largest airport upon to support flydubai's ambitious growth plans, the new maintenance centre will be home to the carrier's expanding team of more than 600 skilled engineers working in Line Maintenance, Technical Services, Materials and Workshops, tasked with guaranteeing the safety and airworthiness of flydubai's offers global aerospace players investment opportunities and is a free-zone destination for the world's leading airlines, private jet companies, MROs, and associated industries. Located in and developed by Dubai South, MBRAH is also home to maintenance centres and training and education campuses. It seeks to strengthen engineering industries to foster the emirate's vision of becoming a leading aviation has partnered with Group AMANA, a leading regional company that specialises in the design-build of industrial and commercial facilities, to deliver a modern facility built to the highest international standards in the heart of Dubai South. At the 2023 Dubai Airshow, flydubai placed its fourth order for 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Today, the carrier has built a modern and efficient fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft and is expected to receive more than 120 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft over the next decade.
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Flydubai starts new Aircraft Maintenance Centre at Dubai South
flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, has broken ground on its new Aircraft Maintenance Centre at Dubai South. The multimillion dollar facility, set to complete construction in the last quarter of 2026, will ensure an increased level of control and quicker maintenance turnaround for the carrier's growing fleet. Spread over 32,600 square metres, the maintenance centre will house an aircraft hangar, support workshops and office buildings. The construction of the Aircraft Maintenance Centre underscores flydubai's dedication to strengthening its inhouse capabilities and reflects the carrier's growing maturity as it expands its fleet and network. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by a senior delegation led by His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, who joined Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, as well as representatives from the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH). Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, said: 'we are proud to witness the groundbreaking of flydubai's new aircraft maintenance centre at Dubai South, a key milestone that reflects the airline's continued growth and operational advancement. This facility reinforces our commitment to supporting the aviation sector through state-of-the-art infrastructure and to further positioning Dubai as a leading global hub for aviation.' Commenting at the ceremony, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: 'this investment marks a significant milestone for flydubai. Since launching operations in 2009, we have made great strides in enhancing connectivity and driving innovation, and the development of our new Aircraft Maintenance Centre will play a key role in the next chapter of our growth journey. This is a strategic step towards supporting our growing maintenance requirement and capacity as we take delivery of more aircraft, and reaffirms our long-term commitment to innovation, operational efficiency and supporting Dubai's position as a global leader in aviation and business excellence.' The carrier signed an agreement with MBRAH for its first purpose-built Aircraft Maintenance Centre at the 2023 Dubai Airshow. Located in Dubai South, the district offers an aviation and logistics ecosystem that makes it an ideal location for the carrier's facility. The maintenance centre will be situated near Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), set to become the world's largest airport upon completion. Tailored to support flydubai's ambitious growth plans, the new maintenance centre will be home to the carrier's expanding team of more than 600 skilled engineers working in Line Maintenance, Technical Services, Materials and Workshops, tasked with guaranteeing the safety and airworthiness of flydubai's fleet. MBRAH offers global aerospace players investment opportunities and is a free-zone destination for the world's leading airlines, private jet companies, MROs, and associated industries. Located in and developed by Dubai South, MBRAH is also home to maintenance centres and training and education campuses. It seeks to strengthen engineering industries to foster the emirate's vision of becoming a leading aviation hub. flydubai has partnered with Group AMANA, a leading regional company that specialises in the design-build of industrial and commercial facilities, to deliver a modern facility built to the highest international standards in the heart of Dubai South. At the 2023 Dubai Airshow, flydubai placed its fourth order for 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Today, the carrier has built a modern and efficient fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft and is expected to receive more than 120 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft over the next decade. -TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arabian Business
02-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
flydubai begins construction of new aircraft maintenance centre at Dubai South
Dubai-based carrier flydubai has begun construction of its new Aircraft Maintenance Centre at Dubai South. The move enhance the airline's operational control and reduce maintenance turnaround times for its expanding fleet. The facility, spanning 32,600 square metres, will accommodate an aircraft hangar, support workshops and office buildings. Construction is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026, the airline said in a statement. flydubai aircraft maintenance centre to house 600 engineers near Al Maktoum Airport The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by a senior delegation led by Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, who joined Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, as well as representatives from the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH). 'We are proud to witness the groundbreaking of flydubai's new aircraft maintenance centre at Dubai South, a key milestone that reflects the airline's continued growth and operational advancement. This facility reinforces our commitment to supporting the aviation sector through state-of-the-art infrastructure and to further positioning Dubai as a leading global hub for aviation,' Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South said. Ghaith Al Ghaith described the investment as a development that supports the carrier's growth trajectory since operations began in 2009. 'This investment marks a significant milestone for flydubai. Since launching operations in 2009, we have made great strides in enhancing connectivity and driving innovation, and the development of our new Aircraft Maintenance Centre will play a key role in the next chapter of our growth journey. This is a strategic step towards supporting our growing maintenance requirement and capacity as we take delivery of more aircraft, and reaffirms our long-term commitment to innovation, operational efficiency and supporting Dubai's position as a global leader in aviation and business excellence,' Al Ghaith added. The project follows an agreement signed between flydubai and MBRAH at the 2023 Dubai Airshow for the carrier's first purpose-built Aircraft Maintenance Centre. The facility's location in Dubai South provides access to an aviation and logistics ecosystem, positioned near Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), which is planned to become the world's largest airport upon completion. The maintenance centre will house more than 600 engineers working across Line Maintenance, Technical Services, Materials and Workshops divisions, responsible for maintaining safety and airworthiness standards for flydubai's fleet. MBRAH operates as a free-zone destination serving airlines, private jet companies, MROs, and associated industries. The hub, located within Dubai South, houses maintenance centres and training facilities as part of efforts to develop engineering industries supporting Dubai's aviation sector development. flydubai has partnered with Group AMANA, a regional company specialising in design-build projects for industrial and commercial facilities, to construct the centre according to international standards. At the 2023 Dubai Airshow, flydubai placed its fourth order for 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The carrier operates a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft and expects to receive more than 120 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft over the next decade.
