Dubai International Airport now has not one but two purpose-built support facilities for business aviation, both located in the duty free zone on the other side of the runway from the airshow. The new Jet Aviation FBO has been operational since May, and will be formally opened at a ceremony here this evening. The new Bombardier/ExecuJet Aviation facility was inaugurated yesterday and began operations just this month.

Jet Aviation’s two-story, 10,760-sq-ft premises lays claim to being the first full-service FBO to open in the United Arab Emirates. The facilities include a reception area, passenger and pilot lounges, a conference room, flight planning suite and prayer room. In July, the center was approved by UAE authorities to provide maintenance for the Boeing Business Jet, Dassault’s Falcon 2000 and 900 models, the Gulfstream IV and G300, the British Aerospace Hawker 1000, and the Cessna 500-series Citations.

The new Bombardier service center is the culmination of a deal signed in November 2001 between Bombardier, the ExecuJet Aviation group and UAE-based holding company, Alpha 55. With an area of 24,000 sq ft it will be able to accommodate two Global Express XRS and two Challenger business jets at the same time. An adjacent service parts depot will contain more than 43,000 parts, including 860 high-demand parts for Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.

ExecuJet managing director Mike Berry said business has “really begun happening” in the last two years. “There are still not enough aircraft to meet the demand, particularly for the charter market.” The need comes not only from individuals, he added, “but from corporate entities who have seen their profits climbing strongly.” The company has had an operation in Dubai for several years, providing aircraft management and executive charter, as well as being a Bombardier sales agent in the Gulf states.

Berry said the new service center will provide a “total solution” to customers who need a business aircraft to be available at a moments notice. “Two years ago we had two aircraft in based in the Middle East and now we have eight,” he concluded.

Here at Dubai 2005, Jet Aviation can be found at Stand E513 and Bombardier at E608.