Max portal to display Dubai airport tenders

Middle East AirportXchange (Max), a company operating the region's first e-marketplace for the airport community, will post information about all tenders related to Dubai International Airport on its portal.

The tie-up with Dubai Civil Aviation (DCA) means that companies wishing to bid for a tender for work at the airport now have a one-stop point for information at www.ax-max.com.

In addition, Max will be running the "general pre-qualifications" for the selection of outstanding suppliers that meet DCA's requirements of quality and expertise.

The general pre-qualification will lead to the creation by Max of a database of selected suppliers who will be eligible to participate in tenders for various projects.

For eight months, Max has had exclusive responsibility for running the pre-qualification of suppliers for expansion projects worth Dh15 billion at Dubai airport.

Pre-qualification is a procedure authorised by DCA to allow the Max portal to register as many companies as possible to participate in airport expansion projects. DCA will shortlist companies from that list to choose the most suitable and capable.

"We are extremely proud to have been chosen by Dubai International Airport to be the single information channel for all tenders related to the expansion projects at the airport," said Hilmi Rifai, general manager, Max.

"Dubai International Airport is one of the fastest growing airports in the world and is expected to invest in several expansion projects to keep up with the incredible rate of growth.

"This agreement will facilitate companies wishing to participate in the airport tenders by offering them all information on our portal."

The portal is designed to handle the prequalification selection process for projects, details about tenders, auctions dealing with airport products and virtual exhibitions showcasing airport-specific products, as well as keep registered members updated on news about airport expansion activity through a regular magazine, a newsletter and interactive forums.

"The Department of Civil Aviation is pleased to welcome any pioneering initiative that simplifies the complex task of managing the expansion projects of Dubai International Airport," said Khalifa Al Zafeen, head of engineering and projects, DCA.

"The Max portal is a specialised online platform focused on suppliers and decision makers at airports. Such a professionally run portal brings benefits to both suppliers and airports, thus bringing all players on a single platform and encouraging healthy interaction between all parties concerned.

"We are positive that this development will revolutionalise the business of inviting and processing tenders for airport projects in the region as well as ensure a higher degree of professionalism in the business."

The portal will also host auctions of airport products, which allows registered members to auction and sell their products. Members are free to choose the kind of products that they would like to auction and can impose certain conditions.