Opinion | Editorials
Airport opening is yet another achievement
New facility will preserve Dubai's status as one of the world's most connected cities
- Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 June 29, 2010
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
- Part of the Dh25 million access road network to the Al Maktoum International Airport at Jebel Ali. The airport, upon completion, is expected to have five parallel runways, six concourses, two mega-terminals interconnected through tunnels and automatic people movers that will serve 160 million passengers.
This week, Dubai joined the club of global mega-cities that host more than one airport by opening Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International — a Dh30 billion greenfield airport project that will be the centrepiece of a Dh120 billion aerospace cluster, when completed in 15-20 years.
The airport, upon completion, is expected to have five parallel runways, six concourses, two mega-terminals interconnected through tunnels and automatic people movers that will serve 160 million passengers nearly double the current total passenger throughput at the world's busiest hub airports. This will be in addition to the existing Dubai International, which is still undergoing expansion with a fourth terminal being built that will raise its total passenger capacity to nearly 90 million.
When completed, both airports will have a combined passenger capacity of 250 million, reinforcing Dubai's status as one of the largest aviation hubs in the world.
Dubai World Central, conceived as a complete airport city, will occupy 140 square kilometres and boost Dubai's well diversified economy, in which aviation and tourism are playing an even greater role. Together with Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone, this will create the biggest sea-to-air logistics hub in the Middle East.
The opening of the airport, three weeks after Dubai's home-grown carrier Emirates placed a $11.5 billion order for 32 additional aircraft, will help the airline to carry a large number of passengers through Dubai's two airports and enhance the aviation sector's contribution to the emirate's GDP.
These developments are part of the government's vision to strengthen Dubai's status as the most connected city in the world, helping to attract business and investment.
June 27, 2010, will be recorded in the history of Dubai — the city of superlatives — as a red-letter day.
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