Emirates Airline said it plans to establish Asia's most technologically-advanced engine overhaul facility in Dubai at an estimated cost of $120 million.

The hi-tech engine shop, to be constructed on a 90,000 sq m of land, aims to service over 300 engines annually, the Dubai carrier said in a statement. The new facility will complement the present Test Cell Facility in Dubai, it added.

The growth of the Emirates fleet and the subsequent number of operating engines have necessitated the need for an in-house Engine Shop in Dubai to provide the most cost-effective, efficient engine maintenance, said its top official.

“The establishment of an Engine Shop reemphasizes Emirates’ commitment to provide the highest standard of in-house maintenance to its fleet, utilizing best practices,” remarked Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

“The Engine Shop will create over 500 new job opportunities, with a large percentage of these to be occupied by UAE nationals,” he noted.

According to him, the engine shop will have the capability of performing 300 engine repairs per annum for the GE90 and GP7000 engines fitted to the B777 and A380 aircraft.

This announcement represents another milestone for Emirates Engineering in their efforts to increase engine maintenance capability in terms of volume and repairs. It is anticipated that construction will commence by first quarter of 2012 and commissioned by the fourth quarter of 2014.

Emirates said it has signed a Letter of Intent with General Electric to oversee the design and construction of the Shop using the most advanced technology, equipment and best practices in the industry.

“We are proud to be working with Emirates in supporting the building of engine shop and to use GE expertise in this field to introduce best industry practices in managing engine repairs,” said Muhammad Al-Lamadani, Senior Executive Sales, VP GE International.