Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal: Expected opening date, new facts, eveything you need to know

The terminal, designed by KPF, is expected to open its doors on December 2, coinciding with UAE National Day, as per reports by Momberger Airport Information.

Construction of the Midfield Terminal began in 2012 and was initially scheduled for completion in 2017. However, various challenges led to significant delays.

In 2019, former CEO Bryan Thompson announced that the project was over 97 percent complete, as reported by Arabian Business’ sister title Construction Week.

“We have been using technology to transform the digital journey for travelers from the time they leave home to arrive at their destination,” Thompson said earlier.

Upon completion, the Midfield Terminal will have the capacity to accommodate up to 11,000 passengers per hour, equivalent to approximately 30 million passengers annually.

In addition, terminals 1 and 2 will be permanently closed, with the possibility of reopening T3 during peak times or converting it into a standalone terminal for budget carriers.

The report also noted key infrastructure enhancements, including a road tunnel connecting the midfield terminal to the existing terminal, simplifying passenger transfers, and the potential expansion with a satellite boarding concourse. An existing tunnel can accommodate an APM (Automated People Mover).

Originally planned to support the growth of Etihad Airways, the vast Midfield Terminal spans about 700,000 square meters and is valued at 10.8 billion dirham ($2.94 billion), as reported by Reuters.

In preparation for the terminal’s opening, Abu Dhabi Airports partnered with the Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) in 2020 to train 17,000 employees to operate the new facility, according to state news agency WAM.

The program, known as ‘FIT,’ aimed to ensure a smooth transition and efficient operation of the Midfield Terminal.

“The programme is supported by a campaign designed to capture the imagination of the airport community, ensuring that employees of all airport organisations are Familiarised, Inducted and Trained (FIT), to operate the new facility,” WAM said.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with the EAG to familiarise our employees with the incredible infrastructure and capability of the Midfield Terminal FIT programme and its campaign, ‘MyTC‘, which are both instrumental aspects of our operational readiness and airport transfer activities, and will ensure our smooth transition to, and efficient operation of the Midfield Terminal when it opens,” WAM quoted then-chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi Airports Bryan Thompson.

Tom Cruise ‘first passenger’ at Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise touched down in the UAE back in June, making a grand entrance as the first passenger to arrive at the Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal.

Cruise arrived to promote “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” at the Midfield Terminal, where some scenes were filmed.

The actor, who plays Ethan Hunt in the Mission Impossible franchise, flew into Abu Dhabi International Airport’s new Midfield Terminal, marking a significant milestone for the recently completed facility.

To celebrate the film’s release, Cruise also unveiled a customised Mission: Impossible design on an Etihad Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Etihad, which was the official airline partner of the movie, had displayed the movie branding during its operations to destinations around the world.

In a nod to its role in the film, the distinctive structure of the Midfield Terminal was also adorned with a matching theme.

Moreover, one of the movie’s most thrilling and technically intricate action scenes was shot on the terminal’s impressive 315-meter roof.

Audiences were offered their first glimpse of the terminal’s interior when the movie hit cinemas on July 13, 2023.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One also features specially constructed sets at the airport, including an Etihad First Class Lounge, as well as scenes set in the breathtaking Liwa Desert.

“We are delighted to welcome Tom Cruise, the cast and crew of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One back to Abu Dhabi. We’re proud of our role in the film and our contribution to Abu Dhabi as a destination that attracts global talent. The scenes showcased in the movie are a testament to the architecture, scale and design of the iconic Midfield Terminal, which is inspired by the cultural elements of Abu Dhabi,” Elena Sorlini, Acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports said.

Antonoaldo Neves, Group CEO of Etihad Aviation Group, echoed this sentiment, praising the collaboration with Mission: Impossible as a testament to Abu Dhabi’s allure as a destination and the unique offerings of the emirate, its airport, and Etihad.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Abu Dhabi and our team in showcasing the unique attractions of the emirate, our new airport and Etihad in the movie,” Neves said.

The scenes shot at the Midfield Terminal were an extensive production effort, requiring 21 days of preparation, seven days of filming, and the involvement of 762 cast, crew, and suppliers.

This marks the second Mission: Impossible film to be filmed in Abu Dhabi, following the 2018 HALO skydiving sequence with assistance from the UAE military, Abu Dhabi Film Commission, and twofour54.

Facts and figures of the Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal

Here are some facts about the Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal, as per the Abu Dhabi Airports website:

1. The Midfield Terminal will be the largest in Abu Dhabi and will be visible from more than 1.5 kilometre away.
2. The Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal is expected to see 30 million passengers per year, with a capacity of handling up to 8,500 passengers per hour.
3. The airport will have 65 aircraft gates.
4. The minimum connection time will be 45 minutes including baggage transfer.
5. There will be eight A380 boarding gates.
6. There are 156 check-in counters and 48 self-service kiosks.
7. The airline lounges area spans 30,000 square metres.
8. There will be 28,000 square metres of retail and food & beverage space.
9. The terminal will have 4,300 CCTV cameras for security purposes.
10. The terminal will feature 27 kilometres of long baggage handling system capable of processing over 19,000 bags per hour.
11. A total of 145 lifts and 46 travelators will be at the terminal.
12. There will be a 3-star transit hotel with 163 rooms.
13. The terminal can accommodate 3,400 cars in short term covered parking and 1,500 cars in long term parking.
14. Inside the terminal, there will be 700,000 square metres of internal space.
15. The central terminal space can easily fit 21 football fields.
16. Roof span of 319 metres at widest point (almost twice as wide as Heathrow Terminal 5 at 160 metres).
17. The ceiling height is 52 metres at the highest point.
18. The terminal is built with 275,000 square metres of aluminium cladding and 115,000 square metres of external glazing.
19. It is also built using 600,000 cubic metres of concrete, 325,000 square metres of stone flooring, 7,425 foundation piles and 69,000 tonnes of structural steel.
20. The Midfield Terminal has one of the world’s largest arches spanning 180 metres across (20 metres wider than the largest arch span at Heathrow Terminal 5).
21. The terminal was awarded a three pearl design rating from the Estidama Pearl Building Rating System (PBRS) by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (APC).
22. The Midfield Terminal building is the largest singular building ever to be rated globally by the Estidama Pearl Building Rating System (PBRS), making it the highest rated airport terminal in the GCC.
23. In addition, the Midfield Terminal can achieve and maintain a reduction in water consumption of 45 percent over a comparative baseline case.
24. A minimum of 75 percent of the terminal’s construction waste will be diverted from landfills during the construction phase.
25. In addition to recycled materials, the terminal’s use of regional materials has reduced the use of fossil fuels for the construction by reducing transportation needs.