Arab group on runway for $3.2bn air terminal

A consortium of Middle East construction companies have been selected as the preferred bidder for the Dh11.75 billion Midfield Terminal Building project at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The Midfield Terminal Building project will be a springboard for Etihad Airway's expansion when completed. (Silvia Razgova / The National)

A consortium of Middle East construction companies with track records in building ultra-modern airports have been selected as the preferred bidder for the Dh11.75bn (US$3.2bn) Midfield Terminal Building project at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac) has chosen Consolidated Construction Company, (CCC), TAV and Arabtec Construction.

"Adac is currently in discussions with the preferred bidder to finalise all details of the contract prior to its signing, and before officially announcing the winning contractor of the Midfield Terminal Building at the capital's airport in June this year," the company said yesterday.

The contract for the 700,000 square metre Midfield Terminal building is one of the largest airport projects ever put out to tender. It will result in passenger capacity at the airport jumping to more than 47 million people a year by 2030.

One of the key strategic infrastructure projects to be undertaken in Abu Dhabi, the terminal will initially handle 30 million passengers per year and act as a springboard to the aggressive growth plans of Etihad Airways.

"In light of the developments underway and planned for Abu Dhabi, the expansion and redevelopment of Abu Dhabi International Airport is aimed at delivering world-class aviation infrastructure to support the emirate's long-term economic and tourism strategies that will underpin the emirate's 2030 vision in building a vibrant and diversified economy," Adac said.

Abu Dhabi plans to spend US$500 billion (Dh1.83bn) on developing its industry, tourism and culture sectors through to 2030 to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons.

"The company is on-track to deliver an efficient and sustainable aviation infrastructure, capable of catering to the growing air transport needs of the emirate," said Khalifa Al Mazrouei, the chairman of Adac.

"Abu Dhabi is experiencing remarkable development in the air transport sector and business and tourism industries that has positioned it as a hub for international commerce and travel. Adac was established in 2006 to support this position and to spearhead the redevelopment of the emirate's aviation infrastructure," he said.

"To this end, it plays a key part in the Government of Abu Dhabi's Plan 2030. Adac will ensure that the aviation infrastructure in the emirate is ready to support this opportunity."

Abu Dhabi International Airport is one of the fastest-growing hubs in the world. Its growth rate of 19.7 per cent over the past five years has been spurred by the rapid growth of Etihad Airways, which is competing for transfer traffic with rivals Emirates Airline, based in Dubai, and Qatar Airways. All three are seeking to attract long-haul passengers to Asia away from the traditional hubs in northern Europe such as London and Frankfurt.

The new terminal will include more than 200 check-in counters, and will be capable of handling over 8,000 passengers per hour. The baggage system is designed for almost 20,000 bags per hour and will have more than 22km of conveyors and 10 reclaim carousels. Security screening lanes for passengers will total 136 with a further 25 for staff.

The passenger facilities will include 18,000 sq metres of duty-free retail shopping and almost 10,000 sq metres of international restaurants and cafes, offering a wide range of styles and cuisines. Passenger facilities will also include more than 27,500 sq metres of space offering 23 hospitality lounges, a transit hotel and a heritage and culture museum.

The total built-up area will be 450,000 sq metres in the central passenger areas, with a further 250,000 sq metres in the aircraft piers. The piers will accommodate up to 65 aircraft, including the largest Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-800.

The whole building will be constructed using almost 70,000 tonnes of steel, more than 1.6 million tonnes of concrete, and nearly 500,000 sq metres of steel and glass cladding.

Three other consortia were shortlisted; Samsung, ACC and Six Construct; Bechtel Corporation, ENKA and Al Jaber Group, and Hyundai, Kumho, China State Construction and Al Shafar General Contracting Company.

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