DHL Express to build its first MENA aircraft maintenance facility in Bahrain

DHL Express will establish its first aircraft maintenance hangar in MENA at Bahrain International Airport (BIA) at an investment ticket of USD 85.1 mn, according to a press release (pdf). The facility — which spans some 34k sqm — will see construction begin in October 2026, with operational launch pencilled in for August 2028.

Self-service: The facility will feature a 9.8k sqm hangar equipped to carry out maintenance on the company’s own fleet of Boeing 777 and 767 cargo aircraft. Once operational, the facility will consolidate DHL’s MENA aviation services into one location — offering management, maintenance, operations, and administrative support.

We knew this was coming: The Bahrain Airport Company and DHL Express signed a Letter of Intent to set up a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in BIA’s western apron last week.

DHL Express already has an established base in Bahrain…: DHL Express MENA, which has been operating in Bahrain since 1976, inaugurated a EUR 218 mn expansion of its MENA hub and main office at BIA last year. The 54k sqm expansion accommodates 12 DHL aircraft and has a processing capacity of over 2 mn shipments annually.

… and elsewhere in GCC: DHL Express also launched its Airport Gateway and Service Centre at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport last year. The facility features a multi-logistics fulfillment and storage center that streamlines trade logistics and regional distribution. Qatar Freezones Authority and DHL’s forwarding arm DHL Global Forwarding also cut the ribbon on a new 1.2k sqm logistics facility at Ras Bufontas Freezone last month.