The master plan

In line with the government of Abu Dhabi’s aims to transform the capital of the UAE into a vibrant, broad-based economy, an increasing emphasis has been placed on the industrial, real estate and tourism development in the federation’s largest Emirate. Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), the owner operator of both the Emirate’s key aviation hubs (Abu Dhabi and Al Ain), is an intrinsic part of the government’s plans and with USD 6.8 billion earmarked for the development of Abu Dhabi International Airport alone, the city can easily boast to be home to one of the world’s most ambitious airport redevelopment projects ever.

Huge investments in the form of infrastructural, industrial, tourism, educational, sports and cultural projects are being pumped into the city with the clear agenda of placing Abu Dhabi firmly on the world map. Strong emphasis is being placed on the capital becoming an iconic, cultural destination with both the Guggenheim and Louvre having already committed to establishing museums in the city. Strong GDP growth will also help the UAE’s federal capital and wider Emirate achieve its target of attracting 2.7 million visitors by 2012 (Source: Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority).

Supporting the tourist and business aspirations of the city and Emirate, a large-scale development programme has been set in motion to transform Abu Dhabi’s airport into a truly world-class facility. Addressing both the short and long-term needs of the Emirate, the programme will allow the airport to grow beyond 40 million passengers and 2.5 million tons of cargo per annum and by 2012, with the newly opened Midfield Terminal, the airport will be able to handle up to 20 million passengers per annum – a six-fold growth compared to its original design capacity of 3.5 million.

By the end of 2008, a new interim facility is expected to open in the form of Abu Dhabi Airport’s new Terminal 3 building which is designed to increase the airport’s passenger capacity by five million per year, taking the total capacity of the airport to over 12 million. The interim facility will allow the airport to manage the large increases in passenger traffic it is currently receiving (up 34 per cent in the first quarter of 2008 over the previous year) and will be used predominantly by Abu Dhabi’s home-based airline, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and the world’s fastest growing carrier.

At the centre of the passenger experience in the new Terminal 3 will be the new retail environment, managed by DFS – the luxury retailer for the travelling public. Officially taking on the management of Abu Dhabi Duty Free from 1 July 2008, DFS will bring a wider portfolio of international luxury brands to Abu Dhabi airport, thereby adding a unique travel experience for all passengers through the airport. The Terminal 3 building is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2008 but it has already started its phased introduction of its facilities with the gates now being used and some of the passenger handling facilities set to be operational in August.

The construction of the airport’s second runway was recently finished and will soon be ready to take its first flights. Situated in parallel to the existing airstrip at a distance of two kilometres, the new 4,100 metre CAT III B, all-weather runway is A380 compatible and will be supported by a new air traffic control complex. Sitting between the two runways, the new control tower is due to be operational in 2009.

The development of the airport’s cargo capabilities will be central to the growth of Abu Dhabi as a key business hub and the new cargo terminal, due for completion in 2011, will boost the airport’s current level of 350,000 tons (in 2007) into a 2.5 million ton facility over the next decade. The overall master plan, or blueprint for the airport development, also includes options for business parks and a four million square metre free trade zone adjacent to the current Terminal 1, 2 and 3 buildings.

Currently, 39 airlines operate out of Abu Dhabi’s two main airports – the majority flying from Abu Dhabi International Airport which is situated 32 kilometres (20 miles) from the centre of the UAE capital and only a 40 minute drive from the UAE’s second major city, Dubai.

In 2008, five new airlines started operations into the Emirate, two of which were cargo airlines that started operating from Al Ain International Airport. Al Ain is increasingly being recognised as having both a strategic advantage for onward logistics within the UAE (equidistant from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai by road) and as a competitive hub in relation to regional and international long-haul stopovers.

Passenger traffic grew by 31 per cent at Abu Dhabi in 2007, and there are no signs of a slow down in this growth in 2008 – Q1 results in 2008 demonstrate a 34 per cent increase in passenger traffic over the same period the year before. With no slowdown anticipated in the short to medium term, H1 and Q2 figures (yet to be released) are expected to match this high but steady level of growth in passenger numbers.

Designed to be an iconic development representing Abu Dhabi, the new airport will serve as the gateway to the Emirate and the wider UAE, and will offer an attractive and welcoming experience for residents, business travellers and visitors alike.

Set to be a world-class, architecturally innovative and operationally efficient home-base for Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi International Airport intends to offer a premium destination, with unsurpassed hospitality and retail environments. It is clear to everyone involved with or close to the new developments that the airport will be home to and will showcase the UAE’s cultural, environmental, and economic achievements to the world.

In line with ADAC’s commitment to providing its customers with an ultimate travel experience, the expansion will introduce state-of-the-art facilities and world-class services.

There will be three to four times the current number of gates, with thousands of square metres added to its duty free, food and beverage outlets, shopping boutiques and customer comforts, such as day spas and recreation facilities that make passengers transit and arriving/departing experience more memorable. All the facilities will be to world-class standards, incorporating the latest amenities and design trends for passenger comfort.

At its present location, just 32 kilometres from the centre of Abu Dhabi City, the airport is also conveniently accessible to all people of the UAE, particularly the catchment areas of the capital, Al Ain City in Abu Dhabi, and increasingly, as its urban development grows southwards, Dubai.
The master plan has been developed to cater to the needs of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s for the next 40 to 50 years and is based upon an incremental and phased implementation of airport facilities. This approach addresses both short and long-term requirements, and is in tandem with and supports the growth of the home-based airline, Etihad Airways.

On the land side, a lot of attention will be given to eliminating congestion and ensuring a pleasant experience for the passenger.

World-class cutting-edge technologies and systems will be applied to make sure the airport provides a superb customer experience. At the same time, due diligence will be given to ensuring that the current great advantages of Abu Dhabi Airport – particularly the quick and efficient passage of passengers through the airport – are retained and further enhanced.

The airport will also reflect the drive of Abu Dhabi’s development into a world leading premium destination. Just as Abu Dhabi is innovating by bringing the Louvre and Guggenheim museums to the region as part of the development of a premium or niche traveller destination, ADAC’s airports intend to stand apart within the region and be renowned for their many unique attributes.
An essential element of the expansion programme will support both the growth of Etihad Airways’ network as well as new foreign airlines, which will trigger both passenger and cargo traffic growth.

ADAC’s stated intention is that the design and construction of all the buildings at the airport is done in a way to minimise environmental impact. ADAC is considering all renewable forms of energy along with being proactive in reducing noise and air quality impacts. In fact, Abu Dhabi Airports Company was recently praised by the Secretary-General of the UAE’s Environmental Agency for migrating various airport vehicles over to gas-power.

ADAC is clearly positioning itself at the forefront of the development envisaged for the whole Emirate and has a clear mandate, as one of the key companies spearheading the government’s vision, to drive and develop the international gateway concept.

As an airport company, ADAC is linked to many, if not all other key economic activities such as tourism, real estate, business investment and industrialisation, either as a gateway for companies doing business in Abu Dhabi or as an owner-developer of such businesses.

ADAC has always been keen on involving its stakeholders in the various stages of the airport’s development and is keen to ensure that the requirements of all its partners and stakeholders are accounted for and incorporated into the design of the new facilities.