Dubai Cargo Village to cross 2 million-ton annual freight by 2010

Dubai Cargo Village will complete 15 years of its existence on July 26, 2006, a period in which it has risen from being just another cargo facility to one of the best cargo centers in the world.

When it was opened in 1991 Dubai Cargo Village was ranked 61 internationally, but in the past one and a half decades the centre has made it to the top 20. Cargo throughput at the facility has always been almost to capacity since its opening, compelling a series of expansion projects over the years and the eventual long-term expansion master plan unveiled recently.

In less than four years of operation, in 1995, the centre had to carry out its first expansion project after cargo volume crossed 250,000 tonnes annual mark, four years earlier than the forecasts had projected. The first expansion saw the Cargo Village's capacity expand by 100,000 tonnes annual to reach 350,000 tonnes. By 1998, the facility was capable of handling 500,000 tonnes annually, and last year the facility crossed the 1 million-ton mark.

In the first half of 2006 cargo movement went up considerably, registering a healthy 10 per cent increase over the first half of 2005. Dubai Cargo Village handled a total of 690,775 tonnes of cargo between January and June 2006, as compared to 627,704 tonnes in the first half of 2005.

Considering growth forecasts which indicate that additional major cargo handling facilities will be required in order to satisfy the rising demands, the AED1 billion first stage of the Cargo Mega Terminal is already under construction while some parts of the phase are already complete. The Mega Terminal will eventually be able to handle an estimated 4 million tonnes of freight annually by the 2018.

The main components of the ongoing phase of the project comprises the Hall B Express Mail Centre, the Cargo Mega Terminal 1, administrative and agents' facilities, multi-storey car park, elevated roadways, Central Utility Plant and other amenities. The Cargo Mega Terminal 1, which will add another 1.2 million annual tonnes to the facility's cargo handling capacity, is expected to be completed by end of 2007. The terminal will be used by Emirates SkyCargo. The five-storey structure, which will house offices of various agencies, warehouses, and other necessary facilities, will be connected by an air-conditioned walkway to a multi-storey car park that will accommodate 650 vehicles.

With the phased expansion project for the facility already underway and cargo movement through Dubai on the increase, the facility is expected to make it to the world's top 10 cargo centers within the next five years.

"Since its opening Dubai Cargo Village has played, and continues to play, an important role in Dubai's growth as a regional and increasingly international trade and business hub," said HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), and Chairman of Emirates Group.

"We will continue the dedicated, concerted efforts to keep enhancing our services at the Dubai Cargo Village; retaining its top spot regionally and taking out international standing higher," he added.

Commenting on the expansion master plan, Ali Al Jallaf, Director, Dubai Cargo Village, said that a long term strategic plan was required to chart the course for the booming facility's future. "The phased expansion will allow us to offer the efficient services we are recognized for internationally, even while the volume of cargo will continue to grow every year," he explained. He added that the facility has a turnaround time of 45 minutes for cargo flights, making it one of the most efficient internationally. He thanked HH Sheikh Ahmed for his guidance, and the facility's strategic partners, and staff in developing Dubai Cargo Village into a major international cargo centre.

Abdullah Mohammed bin Khadiya, Senior General Manager of Cargo Village, attributed Dubai Cargo Village's performance over the years to the strong co-ordination not only within its various sections but with other government departments and agencies. "We have a very strong internal communication between Dubai Cargo Village, Dnata, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Ports and Customs, and many other agencies that work with us," he explained.

Bin Khadiya noted that Dubai Cargo Village was the first to get an ISO 9002 in 1998, and since its opening has claimed as many as 20 awards, both at regional and international levels.