Construction of JXB's Dhs1bn runway complete

This is an aviation record for the fastest A-380 enabled 4.5 kilometre CAT III runway construction.

Built by the UAE's Al Naboodah Contracting for Dhs1bn, the runway is the first tender to be fully executed within Dubai World Central - the mammoth 140 square kilometre urban aviation community, which is centred around JXB.

The runway, designated 12/30 because of its geographic location, will now undergo a period of strenuous tests and trials over the next six to eight months to fulfil its CAT III-C requirements - a precision instrument approach and landing capability with zero metres visibility for aircraft.

"Dubai World Central is enabling us to take the future into our own hands,"

said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, Dubai Aviation Corporation - Dubai World Central.

"The completion of the first runway, capable of handling any new-generation aircraft, signals the advent of a new era in Dubai's aviation and transportation history - a fulfilment of the vision of the late ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who set aside land for an additional airport in Dubai nearly 30 years ago.

"That vision has been taken forward by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who decreed that we should make history, not wait for it. When JXB is fully operational by 2015 we will be geared for any transportation challenge of this century."

JXB's Dhs100m first passenger terminal, being built by Arabtec/Max Bogl JV, a UAE-German joint venture, catering to low-cost, regional and charter airlines is 40% complete with the finishes and MEP tender due to be awarded before the year end.

"The first terminal will cater to seven million passengers annually but will serve to take considerable load off Dubai International Airport (DXB) in terms of flights over the next three to four years," explained Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai World Central. "The two huge mega terminals and the six concourses designed to handle in excess of 120 million passengers annually is currently in the design stage by a team of international architects and technical consultants.

"Taking such huge passenger flows, baggage handling, car parks, check in counters, security checks, facility management, amenities, flight paths, ground handling, taxiing flows, roads and infrastructure and air traffic control into consideration, has been our first priority in planning the airport. By mid-2008 we will announce the final design of the mega airport terminals."

Dubai World Central will make announcements about the new airport's heliport and executive jet facilities during this month's Dubai Air Show.

Other airport structures being built by Arabtec/Max Bogl JV are the Dhs278m cargo terminal which is 50% complete and the Dhs143m Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and navigational aids building which is 25% ready. At 92 metres, the Middle East's tallest freestanding ATC tower is 70% ready and due for completion by February 2008.

"All our phase one major airport infrastructure projects are on schedule for completion between February to June 2008," stated Al Zaffin. "Our contractors and suppliers share our vision to being the largest airport in the world and the best airport project executed globally; and so are ensuring the efficient completion of each individual contract."

Other JXB projects are: the Dhs908m aprons and associated taxiways contract, which is over 75% complete; the Dhs108m Fuel Farms tendered to another UAE-German joint venture, Thermo/Amak JV; and the navigational aids package, worth Dhs120m and shared by UK's Park Air Systems and Thales of France, experts in air traffic control and defence solutions.

Two key contracts worth Dhs161m for emergency services were awarded recently to Convergent Value Engineering LLC, an Abu Dhabi-based metallic installation contracting company, for a total of four fire stations and five police facilities buildings. These services will be exclusively for JXB use.

Through the 18 on-site construction projects over 9,000 workers and staff are helping the mammoth city rise from the desert. That number is expected to increase substantially over the next three years as at least 40 tenders are awarded in coming months.

"Of the 30 tenders already awarded, 20 have been specifically for JXB's infrastructure and the rest spread over DWC's real estate and logistics components," said Abdulla Al Falasi, DWC's Marketing and Corporate Communications Director. "The biggest non-JXB tender awarded so far has been the Dubai Logistics City (DLC) Headquarters and Office Park buildings worth Dhs1.5bn."

Dubai World Central creates the world's first truly integrated multi-modal logistics platform with all transportation modes, logistics and value-added services, such as product manufacturing and assembly in a single-bonded free zone environment made up of the airport city components - DLC, JXB and Aviation City, and the adjacent Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone, through a customs-bonded road corridor.

"The DLC Office Park is nearly 20% complete and will be ready for tenant use in March 2009," said Michael Proffitt, CEO, DLC, "but with the cargo terminals ready by mid-2008 many DLC tenants whose warehousing and logistics facilities are ready by then can begin to use the airport as cargo flights commence towards the end of next year."

Tenders for other DWC real estate components will commence soon with Staff Village accommodation, IT offices, and infrastructure for developers to commence construction. The real estate components include: Residential City, which will offer a combination of freehold and leased quality homes; Commercial City, which will feature hundreds of office tower blocks, and Golf City which will have over 5,000 villas and two 18-hole golf courses.

"Dubai World Central will not only cater to the region's economic growth but will be a strong catalyst for our next level of development as a truly global commercial, trade and logistics hub," said Sheikh Ahmed.

"With Dubai World Central we have strengthened the emirate's plans for aviation advancement which plays a key economic development role as we head towards a post-oil scenario."