Emirates NBD has signed a bilateral capital expenditure term loan to finance one of the Middle East's largest independent aircraft maintenance facilities, to be built by TIM Aerospace at the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai South.

The facility's single-span hangar will cover 18,000 sq m within a total built-up area of nearly 26,000 sq m. Once operational, it will accommodate up to 12 narrow-body aircraft or five wide-body aircraft simultaneously, providing maintenance services across a broad range of Boeing and Airbus types.

The loan from Emirates NBD, one of the UAE's largest banking groups, funds both construction and launch of the purpose-built MRO site. TIM Aerospace positions itself as an independent provider — a segment where capacity in the Gulf remains concentrated among airline-affiliated shops such as Emirates Engineering and Etihad Airways Maintenance.

Beyond the hangar floor, the project includes approximately 8,000 sq m of workshops, warehouses and office space. Specialist infrastructure will comprise 12 aircraft hangar doors, four overhead cranes and seven in-floor service pits.

Capacity and turnaround

For airlines operating in the region, the economics are straightforward. Additional independent hangar capacity at DWC reduces dependence on slot-constrained maintenance lines elsewhere in the UAE and can shorten aircraft turnaround times — a direct lever on fleet availability. The facility also aligns with Dubai's long-term development plans for Al Maktoum International, where operations continue to expand, and reinforces Dubai South's positioning as a cluster for aerospace and engineering companies.

Ahmed Al Qassim, Group Head of Wholesale Banking at Emirates NBD, framed the deal against the backdrop of regional growth.

"Dubai's aviation sector continues to grow at pace, driving demand for world-class maintenance and engineering infrastructure that can support the evolving needs of airlines operating across the region," Al Qassim said. "Financing TIM Aerospace's new MRO facility reflects Emirates NBD's commitment to enabling strategic infrastructure projects that strengthen the UAE's industrial capabilities and reinforce Dubai's position as a leading global aviation hub. We are pleased to support the development of this landmark facility, which will expand local maintenance capacity, enhance the resilience of the aviation ecosystem and contribute to the UAE's long-term economic growth."

A long-term partnership

Timor Shah Shahab, Chairman of TIM Aerospace, cast the loan as the first step in a broader relationship rather than a one-off transaction.

"TIM Aerospace is very pleased to announce this agreement with Emirates NBD and see this as a start of a long-term partnership in delivering a global MRO Business at Al Maktoum International Airport in line with the directives to grow the aviation maintenance sector in the UAE," Shahab said. "Emirates NBD is one of the UAE's largest banks and is widely regarded as a strong partner for businesses ranging from startups to large corporations. The bank has a strong presence in the UAE market and globally; this was key in our decision-making process when deciding which financial institution to partner with."

The announcement did not disclose the loan value, a construction timeline or a target date for the facility's certification and entry into service. Those details will determine when the promised capacity — 12 narrowbody or five widebody lines — translates into bookable maintenance slots for operators.

For now, the project's significance rests on scale and location. A 26,000 sq m independent MRO campus at DWC adds depth to the UAE's maintenance supply chain, and its stated aim of creating skilled employment supports the country's broader industrial diversification agenda. As traffic and fleet growth continue across the Gulf, additional third-party heavy maintenance capacity in Dubai will face no shortage of demand from carriers seeking alternatives to congested regional lines.