Emirates airline to build $950m engineering centre at Dubai World Central

Emirates, the world's biggest long-haul airline, is to build a $950 million engineering facility at Dubai World Central, aimed at supporting its future growth and the wider Middle East's robust aviation sector.

The one million square metre complex is expected to boost Dubai's economy by attracting key players in the global aviation industry to the emirate and create thousands of skilled technical jobs, the company said at the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday.

The facility, which Emirates describes as the “largest and most advanced of its kind to be operated by any airline”, will be equipped to handle the full range of specialist aircraft engineering services.

This includes routine aircraft checks, maintenance programmes and engine repair and testing, to bespoke paint jobs, full cabin interior fit-outs and aircraft conversions.

“The new facility will enable Emirates to be entirely self-sufficient when it comes to maintenance, repairs, overhaul and all engineering requirements for our aircraft fleet,” Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline Group, said.

“It gives us operational stability and flexibility, and quality assurance. This significant investment signals our confidence in the future growth of Emirates and the aviation sector.”

Emirates is increasing its operations amid the resurgence in the global aviation industry, which was severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The sector has rebounded after economies opened up and travel curbs were lifted, prompting airlines to scale up their operations to meet heightened demand.

Global passenger traffic rebounded to 97.3 per cent of its pre-pandemic levels in September, the International Air Transport Association reported last week.

Emirates also posted a record profit in the first half of its 2023 fiscal year on the back of strong international travel demand.

Profit stood at Dh9.4 billion ($2.6 billion) in the April to September period, up 135 per cent from the same period last year, the airline reported last week.

During the period, Emirates carried about 26.1 million passengers – up 31 per cent year-on-year.

To meet growing demand, the airline ramped up capacity in the first half of the financial year by resuming its Airbus A380 operations to Bali, Beijing, Birmingham, Casablanca, Nice, Shanghai and Taipei.

Emirates doubled down on its growth strategy by placing an order for 95 additional Boeing 777X jets and Boeing 787 Dreamliners, valued at $52 billion at list prices, at the Dubai Airshow on Monday. This is part of its fleet replacement and growth programme.

The new engineering complex is being purpose-built to support Emirates’ aircraft fleet and operating requirements into the 2040s, Emirates said.

Construction on the first phase is expected to begin in 2024 and be completed in 2027. That will include eight maintenance hangars and one paint hangar that will be capable of servicing aircraft sizes up to Code F – the likes of the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-8.

Spare capacity will potentially be offered to other airline operators as well, it added.

It will also involve the delivery of an engine run-up facility, around 20 support workshops, storage facilities and administration offices, said Emirates.

“Provisions have been made for further expansion, potentially doubling the capacity in Phase 2, in line with Emirates’ fleet growth and operational requirements,” said Ali Mubarak Al Soori, group executive vice president for facilities, projects management and group procurement and supply chain.

“The new Emirates engineering complex will also incorporate sustainability into its design.”

The existing Emirates Engineering Centre at Dubai International Airport will continue to support the airline’s operations, with the new complex at DWC initially handling spillover work and heavy maintenance programmes with longer aircraft ground time, Emirates said.

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed

Rating: 1/5

In numbers

1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:

800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
150 tonnes to landfill
50 tonnes sold as scrap metal

800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal

Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year

25 staff on site

Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now

Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.

The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.

1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):

a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33

b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.

2. For those who have worked more than five years

c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.

Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.

Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule

1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Zack%20Snyder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sofia%20Boutella%2C%20Charlie%20Hunnam%2C%20Ed%20Skrein%2C%20Sir%20Anthony%20Hopkins%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

MATCH INFO

Real Madrid 2

Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')

Barcelona 0

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Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013