Abu Dhabi Airport gets ready for retail as Midfield Terminal nears completion
Work will begin in a few months on retail units at the Duty Free area of Abu Dhabi Airport’s new Dh19 billion Midfield Terminal.
Seventy-three per cent of the terminal is now complete, Abu Dhabi Airports said yesterday.
The baggage-handling system is near completion and is expected to be finished by the end of this year. Similarly, work on the airside of the airport is more than 70 per cent complete. The terminal’s car park is also 70 per cent finished.
The Midfield Terminal, along with the current airport infrastructure, will serve the rising number of passengers flying through Abu Dhabi, a figure expected to surpass 45 million annually in the next decade. Last year, 23.3 million passengers passed through the emirate, and this year more than 25 million are expected.
The Midfield Terminal will be the largest architectural structure in the capital, according to Abu Dhabi Airports. At its widest, its roof span is 319 metres, and its 18 arches, the largest of which is 180 metres wide and 5 metres high. Situated between the two runways at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the new terminal will allow a short journey from runway to parking stand, according to the airport.
Meanwhile, UAE airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah will introduce departure taxes effective from June 30 to help fund future projects.
Airlines in Abu Dhabi will be responsible for the collection of a Dh35 fee and the revenue will be transferred to Abu Dhabi Airports Company.
“In the absence of non-oil revenue measures it will be difficult for Abu Dhabi government to fund projects,” said Mr Iradian.
“Also, the fiscal consolidation efforts should rely on a combination of raising non-oil revenues and reducing non-priority or inefficient public spending.”
