A third of grading work complete on Dubai Logistics City first phase

"We anticipate we will begin infrastructure and facilities construction early next year," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and Chairman of Emirates.

"Our first construction package will be the project's dedicated runway enabling DLC to operate as a freighter airport capable of handling the new generation Airbus A380-800F airliner."

Dubai Logistics City says construction of both the free zone's facilities, including a cargo terminal, agents building, amenities and the DLC headquarters and office park, will take place simultaneously with construction of facilities for the new Jebel Ali International Airport.

DLC is the first phase of the new Jebel Ali Airport City and, together with Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone and the new Jebel Ali International Airport make up the world's first truly multi-modal facility for air, sea and road services.

Spread over 25 square kilometres, DLC will begin operating in 2007. It is aimed at catering to the logistics requirements of the greater Middle East up to 2050 and is designed to eventually handle more than 12 million tons of air cargo annually in up to 16 air cargo terminals.

DLC is to be the preferred location for businesses which require, or offer, logistics and multi-modal transport services to the GCC, the wider Middle East, India, Africa and the CIS - a market of more than two billion consumers. A recent industry report has valued the GCC logistics market alone at over US $11 billion.