Work on Abu Dhabi’s Midfield Terminal

Abu Dhabi has awarded a Dh10.8 billion contract to construct the Midfield Terminal Building (MTB) at Abu Dhabi International Airport to a joint venture consortium. Abu Dhabi Airports Company, or ADAC, has signed the contract for the major infrastructure project with the consortium comprising Turkey’s TAV, Greece’s CCC and Dubai-based Arabtec Holding. On May 6, the airport company named the consortium as preferred bidders for the project. The project, which will be operational in 2017, will cater to the new passenger handling capacity at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, which has grown 19.7 per cent over the last five years since Etihad Airways started its growth journey. Construction of the 700,000 square metres terminal building will commence in the third quarter of this year. The project will include two key phases: the four-year construction phase, followed by the operational readiness assessment phase (ORAT), where during a nine-month period thorough tests of all aspects of the terminal will take place to ensure operational and efficiency readiness from the first day of operation. The ADAC is playing a key strategic and operational role in ensuring that Abu Dhabi’s integrated infrastructure system across air, rail, road and sea, has sufficient capacity to cater to the increasing numbers of travellers expected as part of the emirate’s long-term economic and tourism strategies. On this announcement, chairman of ADAC, Ali Majed Al Mansoori, said his company “is looking ahead to an exciting five years of growth focusing on increasing traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport and on expanding the airport’s infrastructure to support this growth.” Designed by lead designer Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) together with Ove Arup, NACO and BNP Associates, the design focused extensively on passenger experience, and meets the highest quality and service standards. During the construction process, the area immediately surrounding the MTB is also being developed to ensure the required infrastructure and facilities are available to support the operation of the MTB in 2017. These include the aircraft parking stands, terminal roadways, connecting roads to Abu Dhabi/Dubai highway, and utility plants. Procurement for these projects is currently under way to ensure delivery in phases between 2014 and 2016. The MTB is designed to achieve a minimum Two Pearl Rating, following the Urban Planning Council’s Estidama approach towards sustainable design. The project will minimise its impact on the environment, making use of innovative and cutting edge design elements, such as high performance angled glass to reduce heat and increase air-conditioning efficiencies. Passenger facilities and duty-free retail will include high-end commercial offerings across more than 18,000 square metres, including internationally renowned luxury goods and designer outlets, and almost 10,000 square metres of international restaurants and cafes, offering a wide range of styles and cuisines. Passenger facilities will also include over 27,500 square metres of airline hospitality lounges, a transit hotel and a heritage and culture museum. Piers will accommodate up to 65 aircraft, including the Airbus A-380, while the check-in is capable of handling around 8,500 passengers per hour.