Construction

Tenders issued for airport expansion at Dubai South

By Gavin Davids

Posted on October 9, 2015

Final major contract for this phase of Al Maktoum International expansion to be awarded in November 2015

PHOTO: Dubai Airports, the operator of Al Maktoum International, announced this phase of the expansion of the airport in May 2015. Credit: Shutterstock

Contracts for the expansion of Al Maktoum International airport at Dubai South have begun to be awarded, with the final major tender of this phase expected in November 2015, it has been announced.

The airport’s capacity is being expanded to 26 million passengers annually, up from current figures of five to seven million per year. Situated in the south of the emirate, the airport is expected to be Dubai’s future mega hub airport.

Suzanne Al Anani, chief executive of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), told local media that the first major tender to help FlyDubai move operations from Terminal 2 in Dubai International Airport had already been awarded. A ‘minor tender’ for new counters at the airport is expected to be awarded soon, she added.

The second major tender – for the expansion of the baggage handling system to accommodate 26 million passengers per year – will be awarded within the week, Al Anani said. Finally, the third major tender – for the expansion of the terminal building – will be awarded in November.

Dubai Airports, the operator of Al Maktoum International, announced this phase of the expansion of the airport in May 2015. It is scheduled to be completed by 2018.

Al Anani added that there would be a ‘major relocation’ of operations of FlyDubai and other airlines operating out of Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport to the new airport in 2017. However, she did not specify how much of FlyDubai’s operations would move over.

The new airport is a key element of the Dubai World Central (DWC) city, which was recently rebranded as Dubai South. Some aviation officials are now referring to Al Maktoum International as DWC.

“We have committed to 70 flights a week to 7 destinations from DWC. We will continue to operate from both of Dubai’s airports. Increased capacity will be dependent on airport facilities and passenger demand,” FlyDubai told Gulf News in a statement.

In September 2014, Dubai Airports announced a $32 billion expansion of DWC, with the Dubai government signing off on the master plan for a 120 million annual passenger capacity terminal.