Powering Aviation, Innovation, and Advanced Manufacturing in the Heart of Dubai South

Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) is Dubai’s premier aviation and aerospace ecosystem, strategically located in Dubai South, adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport. Tailored to support the entire aviation value chain and allied industries, MBRAH is designed to be a global destination for aircraft maintenance, private jet operations, aviation training, and high-tech manufacturing.

Core Benefits for All Industries

Strategic Location:

• Direct access to Al Maktoum International Airport, the future world’s largest airport.
• Integrated connectivity to air, sea, and road logistics through Dubai South and Jebel Ali Port.
• Proximity to Expo City Dubai and key commercial zones.

Business-Friendly Ecosystem:

• 100% foreign ownership with full capital repatriation.
• 0% corporate tax on qualifying Free Zone income and no personal income tax for 50 years.
• No restrictions on hiring foreign talent.
• Streamlined licensing and setup within Dubai South’s Free Zone framework.

Benefits to Different Industries

Aviation and MRO Industry

Dedicated Aviation Infrastructure: 

• Benefits from purpose-built facilities for aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO), including large-scale hangars, aprons, and runway access designed for heavy and light aircraft. Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) offers over 7 square kilometers dedicated to aviation, with 9 Code F and 32 Code C plots with ready aprons. Falcon Aviation, for instance, is investing over $100 million by 2030 to enhance its 13,705 sqm MRO facility at DWC.
• On-ground support services include fueling, catering, and aircraft handling, ensuring comprehensive operational support. DWC itself is undergoing a $34.8 billion expansion to become the world’s largest airport, eventually handling up to 260 million passengers annually.

Private and Business Jet Operations:

• Features an Executive Jet Centre catering to VIP clientele with dedicated terminal services. DWC’s expansion includes plans for five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates, accommodating the continuous growth of private and business aviation.
• FBO (Fixed-Base Operator) facilities provide personalized aircraft management and passenger care, supporting the increasing demand for private air travel in the UAE, where general aviation is on a growth curve.

MRO and Leasing Opportunities:

• Ideal for global leasing firms and MRO operators, with available build-to-suit plots. The Middle East aircraft MRO market is projected to reach $12.75 billion by 2030 (4.85% CAGR), driven by fleet expansion and modernization. The UAE aerospace and defense MRO market alone is expected to reach $3.38 billion by 2030.
• Integrated customs, bonded zones, and duty exemptions streamline aircraft import/export. Free zones in Dubai offer 100% foreign ownership and no customs duties on imports and exports, significantly reducing operational costs for MRO and leasing activities. Emirates, a key player operating from Dubai, has a fleet of 254 aircraft as of January 2025, driving substantial MRO demand.

Aerospace Manufacturing & Engineering

High-Tech Industrial Ecosystem:

• Offers customizable plots and advanced industrial units for aerospace components manufacturing. This includes access to specialized utilities, clean rooms, and reinforced structures for heavy-duty machinery, supporting high-precision machining and composites production. The UAE has a growing focus on advanced materials, with companies like Premier Composite Technologies and Strata Manufacturing already producing composite aerostructures for major OEMs like Airbus and Boeing.
• Infrastructure supports high-precision machining for intricate components (e.g., engine turbines, landing gear), crucial for the $2.5 billion global aerospace precision machining services market (2025 est.), demanding micron-level accuracy and adherence to rigorous standards like AS9100.

Industry Collaboration & Innovation:

• Provides co-location opportunities with OEMs, suppliers, and R&D centers, fostering a collaborative environment. R&D is boosted by institutions like the Aerospace Research and Innovation Center (ARIC) at Khalifa University, focusing on advanced manufacturing technologies, including additive manufacturing, advanced inspection, and robotic assembly.
• Supports product testing, certifications, and prototyping. Proximity to UAE-based defense and civil aviation projects offers significant B2G partnership opportunities, aligning with national strategies like the UAE’s investment of over $10.89 billion in industrial firms over the next five years, including aerospace. This also includes the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, with a target of 700 million liters annually by 2030.

Training & Simulation Industry

World-Class Training Environment:

• Offers an ideal ecosystem for pilot training academies, flight simulation centers, and ground crew certification, with demand driven by significant fleet expansions. Emirates, for example, is expanding its pilot training capacity by 54% by March 2024, adding six new full-flight simulator bays to reach a total of 17 bays and over 130,000 training hours annually.
• Availability of custom-designed facilities to house various simulators (e.g., A320, Boeing 777). Flydubai is investing $56 million in a new Full-Flight Simulator and Training Facility with six simulator bays, set to be operational by January 2025.
• Dubai’s high demand for aviation professionals supports sustained training business growth, with the UAE aviation sector projected to require 50,000 new professionals by 2027 and a total workforce of 816,000 jobs by 2030.

Academic Partnerships:

• Provides opportunities to partner with leading aviation universities and regulators for curriculum design. The Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA) has already graduated over 100 cadets since 2020 and operates a fleet of 27 training aircraft.
• Access to a multilingual and skilled young workforce from the region and beyond. The Middle East civil aviation flight training and simulation market is projected to reach $3.2 billion by 2032 (7.4% CAGR), highlighting the strong regional demand for skilled aviation personnel. The UAE alone forecasts a requirement for 22,000 additional pilots and crew by 2033.

Logistics & E-commerce

Cargo and Freight Integration:

• Direct access to air cargo terminals at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), set to become the world’s largest airport with a projected annual capacity of 12 million tonnes of cargo. This is crucial for time-sensitive shipments.
• Seamless integration with land and sea routes (Jebel Ali Port and extensive road networks) enables efficient last-mile logistics. This multi-modal approach helps reduce overall transport costs and cut delivery timelines, especially for e-commerce and perishable goods. Dubai’s strategic location and infrastructure have led to a 255.6% increase in DWC’s year-to-date cargo volumes (as of a recent report), following a shift of freighter flights.

E-commerce Fulfillment:

• Features a rapid order processing infrastructure ideal for high-value goods like electronics, luxury items, and perishables. The UAE e-commerce market is projected to reach USD 20.54 billion by 2030 (12.39% CAGR).
• Offers secure warehousing, customs facilitation, and bonded storage options. Free zones provide 100% foreign ownership and customs duty exemptions, significantly reducing operational costs for e-commerce, with a government aim to reduce total e-commerce operational costs by 20% including returns, storage, and duties. Dubai Customs’ blockchain-based platform further streamlines cross-border e-commerce by automating declarations and providing 100% visibility.

Regional Distribution Hub:

• MBRAH’s location within Dubai South positions it as a prime node for GCC-wide distribution. Dubai South welcomed 415 new companies in 2024, bringing the total to 4,044 operational companies, demonstrating its growing role.
• Dubai’s strategic agenda aims to boost e-commerce’s GDP share to 12% by 2026, with same-day delivery covering over 90% of Dubai’s urban population, solidifying its role as a regional distribution powerhouse.

Advanced Tech & Robotics Industry

Aerospace Tech Synergies:

• R&D facilities support autonomous drone development, AI-driven maintenance systems, and robotics. This environment is ideal for startups in UAVs, avionics software, and smart airport technologies, leveraging Dubai’s strong focus on advanced automation and AI in aviation. Boeing, for example, is expanding efforts to autonomously inspect aircraft, showcasing the industry’s shift.
• Dubai International Airport (DXB) is already deploying ultra-fast biometric systems and AI-powered logistics to enhance operations, providing real-world testing grounds.

Incubation and Innovation Zones:

• Collaboration with Dubai South’s business incubators and accelerators, such as the Dubai Smart City Accelerator. These programs offer hands-on mentorship from over 100 industry experts, seed funding (e.g., AED 50,000 for early-stage Intelak participants), and access to global networks of investors and corporate partners.
• Preferential leasing and funding access for technology-driven enterprises. Dubai South offers competitive company setup costs from AED 12,500 and provides various facility options, including executive offices, warehouses, and plots of land. Government grants like the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (AED 2 billion) and the Innovation Impact Grant Programme (up to AED 367,310) are available to support innovative projects, helping de-risk early-stage ventures.

Why Choose MBRAH for Your Industry

Economic Potential:

• Positioned as the future hub of global aviation, MBRAH is set to capitalize on Dubai’s aerospace ambitions. The broader Dubai aviation sector targets a $53 billion GDP contribution by 2030, representing 32% of the emirate’s annual GDP, and supporting 816,000 jobs.

Tailored Business Solutions:

• Offers flexible leasing models, from ready-built units to long-term land leases. Over 70% of MBRAH’s infrastructure is already complete, with continuous development.
• Provides on-site support from Dubai South Authority for visas, licensing, and banking, streamlining company setup and operations through a 24/7 online customer portal offering hundreds of e-services.

Sustainability & Smart Infrastructure:

• Strong focus on green building standards, solar energy integration, and digital infrastructure for smart operations. Dubai South Headquarters already utilizes solar deployment, and Dubai’s broader strategy targets a 30% reduction in energy and water consumption by 2030.
• Committed to environmentally friendly waste disposal, noise control, and emissions compliance, contributing to a sustainable operational environment.

Global Connectivity:

• Provides unparalleled access to over 220 destinations through Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), which is undergoing a $34.8 billion expansion to become the world’s largest, handling up to 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo annually.
• Serves as a gateway to 2.5 billion consumers within a 4-hour flight radius, facilitating efficient market access and supply chain integration.

MBRAH is where aviation excellence meets next-gen innovation. Whether you’re in aerospace, training, engineering, or advanced logistics, MBRAH offers a launchpad for exponential growth in one of the world’s most future-forward ecosystems.