Story ID: 
Middle East welcomes business aviation
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Middle East FBO activity is accelerating, with a United Arab Emirates company planning to build an FBO at the new Al Maktoum International Airport and an A
Word Count: 187
Middle East FBO activity is accelerating, with a United Arab Emirates company planning to build an FBO at the new Al Maktoum International Airport and an Abu Dhabi company announcing plans to convert a former military airport into the region’s first dedicated executive airport.  Majestic Wings Private Airplane Charter has signed an agreement to build  a second FBO at Dubai World Central Aviation City and is investing $55 million to build a 79,000-sq-ft jet support services facility. Dubai World Central Aviation City is a 140-sq-km land project built around Al Maktoum International Airport. XJet World is the first company to sign up to provide FBO services at the Aviation City site, and the $35 million 158,500-sq-ft facility will be XJet’s first in the Middle East.  Abu Dhabi Airports announced at last month’s Farnborough airshow that it will convert the former Al Bateen military airbase near Abu Dhabi into an executive airport. The company is spending $54 million to build facilities at the airport and envisions being able to offer one-stop shopping for business jet operators. Facilities will include executive terminals, maintenance, fuel, handling and other FBO services.