Known as the new Emirates Engineering Centre (EEC), the project is estimated to cost AED 1,000 million ($272 million). It calls for the construction of: eight hangars for light and heavy maintenance over 100,000 square metres; specially designed floor areas; a power complex; aircraft washing bay; administration block; workshops; and stores.

The contract also entails the construction of: access roads; a multi-storey car park for 2,000 vehicles; a training school; an infrastructure complex surrounding the proposed new hangars, with nine aircraft parking stands; an engine wing-up area; and two taxiways leading to the airport.

The new facilities, which will be used by Dubai-based airline Emirates, will be built at a site adjacent to the airport exhibition centre.

The first phase of the project, due to be completed by the end of September 2004, will cover the construction of four hangars, workshops, stores, an administration block, a training school and a car park. The remaining facilities are targeted to be completed a year later.

The proposed facilities will be designed to serve the 575-seat, wide-bodied Airbus A380 aircraft for which Emirates placed orders in November 2001. First deliveries of the A380s are due in 2006 (MEED 16:11:01).

France's Aeroports de Paris (AdP) is acting as project manager and overall design and lead consultant. The UK's Fraser Nag & Partnership is assisting AdP on the project.The client is Emirates. The existing EEC will be handed over to the Department of Civil Aviation and then demolished.