Mohammad inspects progress of Dubai airport expansion

Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday inspected the expansion work at Dubai International Airport, intended to provide additional facilities to accommodate the growing passenger traffic.

The airport is expected to cater to over 43 million passengers a year.

Shaikh Mohammad toured the new facilities dedicated exclusively to Emirates airline, which includes the new building (Terminal 3) and Passenger Concourse 2.

Shaikh Mohammad, who was accompanied by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Auth-ority, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, also inspected the three-storey vehicle parking facilities that can accommodate up to 2,000 cars.

He also heard a presentation from Khalifa Al Zafein, chief executive of Dubai World Central, on the two buildings, which comprise more than one million square metres.

At a meeting with the young national cadres, Shaikh Mohammad praised them for the hard, diligent work they did over the past five years to complete the vital project.

He termed the project as gigantic and a source of pride as it is part of Dubai development and modernisation strategy for 2015. The two facilities will be officially opened in May.

Dubai International Airport has a capacity of 22 million passengers now. It will be able to handle 60 million passengers a year when the expansion projects are completed.

Forecasts project the airport to handle 70 million passengers a year by 2016 and 100 million a year by 2025.

Located beneath the taxiway area and directly linked with Concourse 2, Terminal 3 incorporates an innovative design that promotes simplified, easy passenger flow and reduces walking distances.

Terminal 3's features include a multi-level underground structure, first class lounges and dedicated counters, restaurants, 180 check-in counters and underground parking spaces. The total built-up area is 5,000 square metres.

The departure and arrival halls within the terminal will be located 10 metres below the apron and taxiways.

Directly connected to Terminal 3, Concourse 2 is dedicated exclusively to Emirates. The building will include a multi-level structure for departures and arrivals. Additionally, there will be a direct connection to Shaikh Rashid Terminal located at the control tower structure.

Expanding aviation hub

• The $4.5 billion expansion plan includes the construction of Terminal 3 and two associated airside facilities
• The two airside facilities will have 23 gates specifically designed for the super jumbo
• Terminal 3 and one of the two airside facilities will open in mid-2008
• The second airside facility will be dedicated to the A380 and will be operational in 2009
• By mid-2008, Dubai International will have a total of seven gates for A380
• Dubai International will have 25 A380 dedicated gates by end of 2009
• Departure/Arrival halls located 10 metres below the apron and taxiways
• 220 check-in counters and 14 baggage belts
• Terminal 3 and associated facility will have a car park for 2,600 cars, 157 elevators and 97 escalators
• Total length of baggage belt is 90 kilometres and it will handle around 15,000 items of baggage per hour
• 8,000 bags per hour can be checked-in at the check-in counters
• The baggage handling solution is a combination of belt and tray technology
• It has up to 800 radio frequency identification read/write stations for 100 per cent accurate tracking