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World in motion
A little over nine months since Construction Week last visited the site, Dubai World Central (DWC) - the massive 140km2 urban aviation community - is beginning to take shape. From resembling little more than an extension of the desert, there is now a tangible sense of a development gaining pace.
The first runway has been finished, with work nearing completion on the air traffic control tower. A number of major contracts have been awarded and construction of the Dubai Logistics City (DLC) headquarters is well underway.
Central to the emirate's vision of harbouring an infrastructure for an international city of the future, Dubai World Central, which is focused around the Al Maktoum International Airport (JXB) also contains DLC, DWC Commercial City, DWC Residential City, DWC Golf City and DWC Aviation City.
Earlier this year, a reshuffle of the original masterplan saw Enterprise Park make way for an expanded Aviation City and Exhibition City. Michael Proffitt, CEO, DLC explained the move after it became clear that the demand for such an undertaking was already being met in Dubai. "Enterprise Park was for science and technology but there are areas which focus on that in Dubai," he said.
Work also finished this month on the first runway at JXB. At a cost of US $272 million (AED 1 billion), 4.5km long and 50m-wide, it will be the first of six runways that will form part of the world's largest airport.
Located at Jebel Ali, approximately 40km from the centre of Dubai, JXB is expected to receive its first flight in mid-2009, and will be at full capacity by 2015. Phase one of JXB, which includes the construction of the first runway and the first passenger and cargo terminals, has been estimated at $8.1 billion.
Built by Al Naboodah, the runway is the first tender to be fully executed within DWC. It was completed on schedule - in the projected 600 days - and represents an aviation record for the fastest A-380 enabled CAT III runway construction. Once approval is received for the first runway - which must be subjected to strenuous testing and trials over the next few months to fulfil its CAT III requirements, construction will begin on the second runway, with tenders expected to be issued in the first quarter of next year.
Progress has continued on a number of other key aspects of the project. JXB's $27 million first passenger terminal, being built by Arabtec and Max Boegl in a UAE-German joint venture that will cater to low-cost, regional and charter airlines, is 40% complete, with the finishes and MEP tender to be awarded before the end of the year.
This new temporary terminal is being designed to cater for between five to seven million passengers while the main terminal and concourse is being built. "The first building is temporary, until we finish the main terminal and concourse, which are huge - bigger than Dubai Airport. That is why it is taking time," says Abdulla Al Falasi, DWC's marketing and corporate communications director. "We are also building an area for executive jets, helicopters and a cargo terminal." This is designed to alleviate the load on the straining Dubai Airport, he adds.
JXB will feature two mega-terminals and six concourses designed to handle in excess of 120 million passengers and 12 million tonnes annually. They are currently at the design stage. It is expected that by mid-2008, the design of the terminals will be finalised.
Al Falasi stresses, however, that JXB does not signal the end of Dubai Airport: "We will have two airports. Some of the airlines will move to the new airport while some will move later. But we are not going to close Dubai Airport, it will run as it is until the last aircraft and company leaves. We are not stopping any investment in Dubai airport because Dubai is increasing very fast - it is seeing a 15% annual increase."
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