Dubai: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise will build a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility to cater to a massive influx of new airlines and charter carriers expected for Dubai World Central Airport, its chief executive said yesterday.

Bob Johnson said the facility would have a "significant" footprint at the new airport, but said final plans have not yet been completed.

The Dubai government is building World Central at a cost of $30 billion to accommodate 120 million passengers annually. DAE, a $15 billion state-backed firm, will move into its new headquarters at World Central around 2009 or 2010.

DAE's maintenance hub could rival and even overtake the established MRO operators in Europe and North America, Johnson said.