Construction started on Monday on one of the world's largest civil aviation maintenance hangar complexes, a megaproject by Emirates Airline with an estimated cost of more than five billion U.S. dollars.
The facility, scheduled for completion in 2030, will include eight large maintenance hangars, two specialized painting hangars, and related auxiliary facilities. Once operational, it will provide expanded support for Emirates' global fleet.
Located in the Dubai World Central area, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the project covers a total area of approximately 1.21 million square meters. In an illustration of the country's partnership with China, construction is being undertaken by China Railway Construction Corporation.
"The cooperation represents the deepening of good-neighborly friendship and pragmatic cooperation between China and UAE. It is an important practice in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and a significant outcome of 'Built by China' services in building a China-Arab community with a shared future," said Dai Hegen, president of China Railway Construction Corporation.
Adel Ahmad Al Redha, deputy president and chief operation officer of Emirates Airlines, said the airline would continue to invest in aviation maintenance.
"Emirates will continue to contribute to the development of the aviation maintenance sector through embarking many projects that attract talents and create greater job opportunities for both local and international communities and align with Dubai's economic agenda D33," said Al Redha.
China-built Emirates aviation hangar megaproject breaks ground in Dubai
CEO of Mastercard Michael Miebach, who was part of the U.S. business delegation that accompanied President Donald Trump during his just-concluded state visit to China, has hailed China's commitment to advancing global connectivity and delivering win-win results.
Trump on Friday wrapped up his three-day visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the first visit by a U.S. president to China in almost nine years since President Xi hosted Trump in the Chinese capital in November 2017.
In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Miebach shared his views on how China’s continual push for global connectivity resonates positively with people in the United States and beyond.
Mastercard's Chinese joint venture announced the official commencement of its bank card clearing operations in May 2024, issuing Mastercard-branded cards with its member institutions for domestic and international use.
Over the past two years, Miebach said, the company has rolled out more than 200 products and programs tailored to the Chinese market, greatly enhancing convenience for users.
"Before our license was bifurcated, largely, that you either have a card that does something over here and have a local solution. So now you have ultimate choice, ultimate convenience and safety, security, predictable experience everywhere you go. If you're a person that travels a lot or a businessperson, for example, then some business trips really matter. So, it's a pretty unique proposition," the CEO said.
He also recognized China's unfaltering commitment to cooperation and willingness to work with others, saying that these principles make true mutual benefit possible.
"The priority of the Chinese government is strengthening the service sector. It is driving consumption. It is international connectivity. So that point, I just illustrated, it's very firmly on the last one. So, I think we're very well aligned with this joint venture coming together between our Chinese partners, ourselves, and our customers here to really drive what the government is trying to do. It makes a lot of sense for us. It's a true win-win," he said.
China's push for global connectivity delivers true win-win results: Mastercard CEO
