Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport completes construction of 4,500m runway

Meanwhile, Dubai World Central International Airport has recently been officially renamed Al Maktoum International Airport.

Built by the UAE's Al Naboodah Contracting for AED1 billion (USD272.5 million), the runway is the first tender to be fully executed within Dubai World Central - the mammoth 140 square kilometre urban aviation community, which is centred around JXB.

The runway, designated 12/30 because of its geographic location, will now undergo a period of strenuous tests and trials over the next six to eight months to fulfil its CAT III-C requirements - a precision instrument approach and landing capability with zero metres visibility for aircraft.

JXB's AED100 million first passenger terminal, being built by Arabtec/Max Bogl JV, a UAE-German joint venture, catering to low-cost, regional and charter airlines is 40% complete with the finishes and MEP tender due to be awarded before the year end.

"The first terminal will cater to seven million passengers annually but will serve to take considerable load off Dubai International Airport (DXB) in terms of flights over the next three to four years," explained Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai World Central. "The two huge mega terminals and the six concourses designed to handle in excess of 120 million passengers annually is currently in the design stage by a team of international architects and technical consultants.

"Taking such huge passenger flows, baggage handling, car parks, check in counters, security checks, facility management, amenities, flight paths, ground handling, taxiing flows, roads and infrastructure and air traffic control into consideration, has been our first priority in planning the airport. By mid-2008 we will announce the final design of the mega airport terminals."

Other airport structures being built by Arabtec/Max Bogl JV are the AED 278 million cargo terminal which is 50% complete and the AED143 million Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and navigational aids building which is 25% ready. At 92 m, the Middle East's tallest freestanding ATC tower is 70% ready and due for completion by February 2008.

"All our phase one major airport infrastructure projects are on schedule for completion between February to June 2008," stated Al Zaffin. "Our contractors and suppliers share our vision to being the largest airport in the world and the best airport project executed globally; and so are ensuring the efficient completion of each individual contract."

Other JXB projects are: the AED908 million aprons and associated taxiways contract, which is over 75% complete; the AED108 million Fuel Farms tendered to another UAE-German joint venture, Thermo/Amak JV; and the navigational aids package, worth AED 120 million and shared by UK's Park Air Systems and Thales of France, experts in air traffic control and defence solutions.

Two key contracts worth AED161 million for emergency services were awarded recently to Convergent Value Engineering LLC, an Abu Dhabi-based metallic installation contracting company, for a total of four fire stations and five police facilities buildings. These services will be exclusively for JXB use.

Through the 18 on-site construction projects over 9,000 workers and staff are helping the mammoth city rise from the desert. That number is expected to increase substantially over the next three years as at least 40 tenders are awarded in coming months.

"Of the 30 tenders already awarded, 20 have been specifically for JXB's infrastructure and the rest spread over DWC's real estate and logistics components," said Abdulla Al Falasi, DWC's Marketing and Corporate Communications Director. "The biggest non-JXB tender awarded so far has been the Dubai Logistics City (DLC) Headquarters and Office Park buildings worth AED1.5 billion."

Dubai World Central creates the world's first truly integrated multi-modal logistics platform with all transportation modes, logistics and value-added services, such as product manufacturing and assembly in a single-bonded free zone environment made up of the airport city components - DLC, JXB and Aviation City, and the adjacent Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone, through a customs-bonded road corridor.

Date posted:06-Nov-07