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"Spending on Middle East airports to top $32b"
Friday, October 20, 2006
Spending on Middle East airports to top $32b
By Ivan Gale
United Arab Emirates - Gulf News
Dubai - Spending on the Middle East's booming airports will top $32 billion
over the next few years, according to the latest statistics compiled by the
Zawya research portal.
The money is being spread over 21 expansion and construction projects
throughout the Middle East and North Africa, with the top three projects in
the UAE.
Overall, passenger capacity will increase by over 400 million when all
projects are completed, although the report did not specify the completion
date of each project.
In 2005 alone, capacity in the region increased by 10 million passengers,
with even greater yearly gains expected to materialise in the near-term.
Construction at the larg-est development, World Central International
Airport in Dubai's Jebel Ali district, will see an $8.1 million outlay for
all phases. Added capacity for three million passengers will be created
following World Central's $272-million phase one. When complete, the airport
will have room for 120 million passengers each year.
World Central will go head-to-head with Dubai International Airport, which
is spending $4.1 billion to raise capacity by 48 million, for a total of 70
million travellers annually.
Elsewhere, Abu Dhabi International Airport will expand by 44 million
passengers thanks to a $6.8 billion construction effort.
Qatar plans to make room for 42.5 million new visitors per year at its new
airport, and Bahrain intends to add 15 million by 2015.
The newly expanded airports will leapfrog ahead of current Top 10 airports
in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran. King Khalid International Airport, King
Fahd International Airport, and King Abdul Aziz Airport in Saudi Arabia are
equipped to handle between 8.5 million and 14 million passengers.
Attached Photo:
Construction continues on Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport, which
expects to be completed next year.
20_bz_dubai_airport_4.jpg
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