Another Airfield @ DXB?

[Mo Heekan]

I've just heard that all work has stopped on the airfield at Dubai while decisions are made about a new airfield at Jebel Ali. I believe a second airfield was always in the pipeline, but this was way in the future.

Apparently, the cost of working on the a/f at DXB is not worth the percentage gain in passengers and that 80% of the cost of the new airfield will be covered by selling the land at Dubai airport.

A good rumour. Anyone got more gen?



:cool:

[newswatcher]

This surfaced last year when the "palm tree" islands project was launched. At the time, Sheikh Mohammad was projecting a six-fold increase in tourist numbers over 10 years, resulting in a figure of some 15 million tourists per annum. The capacity of the existing airport is constantly being increased. Original plans for 30 million capacity by 2010, have now risen to 45 million by 2015!

The figure of 30 million was originally intended to be the threshold for triggering the building of the second airport at Jebel Ali, which would be close to the Free Trade Zone, and also the bulk of the tourist hotels. It would be interesting to know if there would be any plans for joining the airports with a Rapid Transit system.

Cannot find any media reports of a change in stance this week.

[FOZ]

This project has now got the goahead. It will be called Airport City and will be a centre of excellence for all related things. Included is a new 6 runway airport capable of handling 120m pax per annum.

.......it's only 40km from DXB so will this replace it, complement it or compete with it?

Edited to add the press release:-

HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered the construction of the Jebel Ali Airport City (JAA) project, to begin in February.


HH General Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, UAE, was briefed about the project by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates Group.


Jebel Ali Airport City project will cover 140 square kilometres and will include, not just an airport, but also several smaller cities which will cater to the financial, industrial, service and tourism industry needs connected to the aviation industry. The core of the city will be one of the world’s largest airports.


The airport at Jebel Ali will be built 40 kms from the existing Dubai International Airport adjacent to Jebel Ali Port and Jebel Ali Free Zone. It will be surrounded by a strategic road network linking the airport to the different emirates and some of the GCC countries.


The project will be completed in phases. The first phase, costing US $ 547 million (Dhs 2 billion) will include the Logistics City and one runway. Initially, the focus will be on cargo requirements. The airport will consist of a number of terminals, six parallel runways, a large area for cargo and two main entrances. When completed, the airport will have the capacity to handle 120 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo annually. All facilities will be equipped to handle new generation aircraft including the A380.


The new airport will be encompassed by a carefully designed and integrated ‘city’ that will form the modern hub for aviation and business industries, and simultaneously cater to the general public and tourist. This diverse, urban environment will be organised into ‘cities’ featuring aviation, logistics, commercial, residential, educational, recreational, technology and entertainment facilities. The Jebel Ali Airport City will include the following, besides, the new airport.


Dubai Logistics City: - This will be the world’s largest multi-modal logistics hub for air, sea and road service, located adjacent to Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone.


Commercial City: This will the financial and business heart of JAA city forming a breathtaking new Dubai skyline. It will include a high rise area of over 850 towers (50-300 metres in height). It is expected to become the future financial and business centre for leading companies.


Aviation City: This is foreseen as becoming the regional headquarters for leading companies working in the aviation industry, including suppliers, maintenance specialists, manufacturers etc.

Science and Technology Park: This will serve the industrial and technological sector.


Residential City: There will be a variety of accommodations from luxury estates and spacious apartments to affordable developments and airport staff housing. It will include commercial and community services for residents.


Golf Resort: Will be the region’s largest golf course surrounded by high-rise residential towers as well as villas in form of clusters.


The JAA city is a master plan designed to cater not just to the growing travel and tourism demands but also for the industries that progressively being established around the Jebel Ali industrial belt. The Government of Dubai is committed to making Dubai a premier destination in terms of business and leisure. The Department of Civil Aviation’s new project, the Jebel Ali Airport City, is another step in making that objective a firm reality.

[MAN777]

Now thats what I call investment. It just shows how pathetic planning for future airports is in the UK. BAA cant even get its act together over a simple runway at Stansted.

All I can say is watch out all you so called Euro hubs, Emirates is going to suck all the passengers from the regions and push them all through Dubai, it has already started and they are going to have to fill the A38Os somehow. !

I predict that Emirates will have A330 / 777 services from every major european city soon. (including Cardiff, Edinburgh and Bristol)

[jabird]

Newswatcher:

http://vgn.dm.gov.ae/DMEGOV/dm-metro-network

Has info about the current metro project, which would include a stop at (the existing) DXB.

I can't see the economic sense in building up what is already regarded as one of the finest airports in the world, only to close it down and build a bigger one 40km down the road.

6 runways and 140km of land - it certainly puts our petty squables in the Midlands into perspective!

Then again, $495m is peanuts for a completely new project, that would buy you a few hundred metres of STN runway! I suppose there is no "green belt" to worry about in the UAE though.