China breaks ground on US$5b aviation complex in UAE as Iran war risks linger

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A state-owned firm has launched work on a massive aviation complex, signalling continued confidence amid regional conflict

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Emma Main ShanghaiPublished: 7:00pm, 21 May 2026Despite instability in the Middle East, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has begun building the world’s largest aircraft maintenance complex in the United Arab Emirates, underscoring China’s growing dominance in overseas infrastructure.

The project, worth more than US$5 billion and one of the largest construction deals a Chinese builder has secured in the region, will comprise eight large maintenance hangars for aircraft storage, covering about 1.21 million square metres (13 million square feet).

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CRCC officially launched construction on Monday, with completion expected by 2030, according to state news agency Xinhua. The complex is located in Dubai South, a planned city formerly known as Dubai World Central.

Beijing has deepened economic cooperation with countries in the energy-rich Middle East in recent years through expanded trade and infrastructure investment, even as geopolitical risks intensify. In the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran, some prominent Chinese business leaders have remained committed to their investments in the region.

“In recent years, as China-UAE cooperation has continued to deepen, Chinese companies have been increasingly active in infrastructure development across the Middle East,” said Dai Hegen, chairman of CRCC, as quoted by Xinhua.

“‘Chinese construction’ and ‘Chinese quality’ [are] steadily gaining recognition and injecting stronger momentum into the development of the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership.”

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