Dassault expands MRO options in the Middle East

With its new ExecuJet service centre in Dubai near completion, Dassault Aviation adds another link in its worldwide MRO network for business aviation.

MRO Services

SERVICE ACE: Dassault support expands in Dubai. Picture: Dassault

It's no secret that Dassault Aviation is keen to expand its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capacity – chief executive Eric Trappier said as much when he revealed the group’s plans for service centres in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

Trappier said the facilities, part of the network of wholly owned subsidiary ExecuJet MRO Services, would allow the group to maintain a high level of support reactivity and spare parts availability.

The new Dubai base, which will also become ExecuJet’s new regional headquarters, is expected to open at Al Maktoum International Airport in the last quarter of 2022. It will be capable of C-checks for new generation jets, allowing Dassault to respond quicker and more efficiently to the needs of clients in the region.

The 15,000 m2 facility is being built to accommodate 18-24 business jets simultaneously. It has been designed to handle the largest business jets of all types, including the Falcon 6X – entry into service end-2022 – and the Falcon 10X, which has a projected service entry date of 2025.

“Dubai is a hub for so much global traffic that it merited a large investment in MRO capacity and expertise,” said Nick Weber, regional vice-president Middle East at ExecuJet MRO Services.

ExecuJet has been operating in Dubai for two decades and is certified to handle a range of types. It is a factory service centre for all Dassault Falcon aircraft and provides line and base maintenance for Bombardier, Embraer Executive Jets and most Hawker business jet models.

Dassault’s expansion strategy mirrors the boom in business aviation. Demand in the UAE grew 73% in 2021 compared with 2019. At last November's Dubai Airshow, the sector accounted for more than 30% of aircraft on display.

Anuradha Deenapanray

Anuradha Deenapanray

Anuradha is a francophone editor for African and Arabian Aerospace magazines.