3.39 PM Thursday, 28 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:57 06:11 12:27 15:53 18:37 19:51
28 March 2024

Dubai World Central starts on Executive Terminal

The 6,000 square metres terminal is sited at Dubai World Central’s Aviation District. (File)

Published
By Staff & Wam

Dubai World Central (DWC), the world’s first purpose-built aerotropolis, on Tuesday announced the ground breaking of an Executive Terminal which will cater exclusively to business aviation.

The 6,000 square metres terminal is sited at DWC’s Aviation District and is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2015. The facility will host Jet Aviation, XJet, and Jetex as key fixed-based operators.

Speaking at the 6th Middle East Business Aviation Association (Mebaa) exhibition being held at Dubai World Central, Rashed Bu Qara’a, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said: "DWC is partnering with industry leaders to build a complete ecosystem for a world-class aerotropolis, and the Executive Terminal is a step in the right direction. Providing integrated access to both land side and air side, DWC’s Aviation District enables the seamless functioning of fixed-based operations and is, therefore, ideally placed to host a project of this magnitude".

Other key features of the terminal include dedicated facilities for customs, immigration and police, separate drop-off and executive lounge areas to ensure full privacy, as well as walkable, direct access to the apron.

Khaled Al Mulla, Chairman, Al Mulla Investment Group, said: "In keeping with our role as leaders in the FBO and MRO sector, we took a strategic decision to transfer our operations to the Aviation District in DWC due to the heavy air traffic at Dubai International Airport, which sometimes leads to constraints that may impact our services.

“DWC has the ideal infrastructure, competitive pricing and the flexibility that we need to do business, especially with regards to technical stops, where flights from Europe land for technical checkups or for refueling purposes."

Founder and CEO Josh Stewart of XJet, a USA-headquartered exclusive private aviation service provider, said: "XJet has been committed to bringing its award-winning business model to the Middle East for a number of years. DWC provides us with the perfect location to launch our exclusive club & transient operations. We are incredibly excited to have been awarded a license to operate at the world’s first purpose-built aerotropolis. The truly world-class setup at DWC has encouraged us to relocate our global headquarters to our new facility which will be opening in 2015."

Adel Mardini, CEO and President of Jetex, said: "The new executive terminal will complement the rapid growth of business aviation in the Middle East in general and in Dubai in particular. Considering the geographical advantage that Dubai enjoys, I am confident that DWC will exceed all expectations for success and Jetex will play a significant role in that success through providing first-class customer service. With the diversified offerings of key players at this aerotropolis, DWC will give a new definition to the concept of general aviation and to flying in luxury."

Services at the Executive Terminal will be supported by a $80 million VIP Completion Centre scheduled for completion by Falcon Aviation by the end of 2015.

DWC gets aircraft painting facility worth Dh150m

Dubai World Central has signed an agreement with STTS Group, a major player in aircraft painting, at the Middle East Business Aviation Association (Mebaa) exhibition held at DWC from December 8 to 10, 2014.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, Rashed Bu Qara’a, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, Christophe Cador, CEO and President, Finaero (holding company of STTS Group), and French diplomatic representatives including Majdi Abed, General Consul and Jean-Claude Daupeyroux, Economic Counselor.

Under the agreement, the STTS Group, headquartered in Blagnac, France, will invest in a multi-purpose facility worth over Dh150 million ($40 million) that will cater to narrow body airlines, VIP aircraft as well as business jets. The business case could develop into a capacity to service wide body aircraft, including the Airbus A380.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Rashed Bu Qara’a said: “With this new partnership, DWC has come closer to its ambition of becoming the only hub outside of North America and Europe to offer a complete ecosystem to the aviation and aerospace industry. We are setting the stage to enable our partners to connect better with a flourishing regional market and, by extension, to the global market.”

Scheduled for completion in Q1 of 2017, it will be the Middle East’s first, independent aircraft facility to utilize state-of-the-art OEM-approved painting technology. It will be built to handle 25 wide body aircraft and 35 narrow body aircraft on an annual basis.

Christophe Cador, CEO and President, Finaero, holding company of the STTS Group, said: “It is a great and challenging opportunity for STTS Group to be able to serve the Middle East market from Dubai World Central. Founded on a 5 year relationship built with Emirates Engineering and the huge expansion of the fleet servicing the Middle East, we have decided to invest in an environment friendly and state of the art operational setting.”

The STTS facility adds to the DWC aviation and aerospace ecosystem, which now includes the recently announced 13,705 sq. mt. Falcon VIP Completion Center that will provide enhanced and customized services to VIP customers and will also feature a state-of-the-art hangar equipped to accommodate various aircraft, including an Airbus A380.