Mideast to invest $7.77b in airports

Over Dh28.55 billion ($7.77 billion) will be invested in building, developing and upgrading new airports in the Middle East in the next few years, according to reports from the region's civil aviation authorities.

This includes a Dh11.98 billion ($3.26 billion) investment in expansion of three UAE airports: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

Together with Doha Internatio-nal Airport's Dh3.67 billion exp-ansion, Kuwait's new Airspace System that will cost Dh1.06 billion, Muscat's Seeb International Airport's new Dh551 million terminal and Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport's Dh2.75 billion facelift and new terminal project, the total investment in civil aviation facilities in the GCC will rise to Dh20 billion.

Out of the balance Dh8.52 billion investment, Egypt is spending Dh3.12 billion for a number of projects that include improvement and expansion of Cairo International Airport ($500 million), expansion of Sharm El Sheikh airport ($200 million) and building of six new domestic airports, upgradation of three airports in Libya's Tripoli, Benghazi and Sirte for Dh2.97 billion, expansion of Algiers International Airport for Dh1.1 billion, Dh452 million expansion of Mohammed V Airport in Casa-blanca and Enfidha's new airport, valued at Dh896 million in Tunisia.

Meanwhile, work on Dubai International Airport's $2.5 billion expansion has begun and the Department of Civil Aviation has awarded contracts on some of the works under the project.

"We have awarded contracts for some earthworks under the exp-ansion plan including a Dh400 million tender which involves excavation and ground development," said Khalifa Suhail Al Zaffin, director of engineering and projects at DCA.

Abu Dhabi International Air-port is gearing up for the Dh2.6 billion expansion which will be over by 2004. Besides, Fujairah International Airport is expanding its facilities to include a second runway of 4,250 metres at a cost of Dh183 million. It is scheduled to be completed by 2005.

In Saudi Arabia, seven companies are expected to bid for the project management and consultancy contract for the expansion of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The contract is expected to be the largest for civil construction in the kingdom in the next two years.

The completion of the project is expected to be in 2005.

The seven bidders are companies from the U.S., UK and the Netherlands. The project will involve construction of two new passenger terminals for international and domestic flights alongside the south terminal.