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South African venture wins $1b Dubai airport contract

DUBAI - South African construction firm Murray & Roberts (M&R ) and its joint venture partners yesterday said they won a $1 billion contract, which is part of the $4.1 billion Dubai International Airport expansion project under way.

“The Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has this weekend issued a letter of intent to award the contract for completion of terminal 3, concourse 2 and car park at Dubai International Airport,” the company said in a statement issued in Johannesburg.

The joint venture consists of M&R and Japanese construction firm Takenaka which specialises in airport projects. M&R, which will lead the 28-month long construction, is project leader and has a 40 per cent share.

The current Phase 2 expansion programme of the Dubai International Airport, costing Dh9.25 billion, was begun in 2002. It includes the construction of Terminal 3, concourse 2 and concourse 3, and a Mega Cargo Terminal. Construction work for Terminal 3, concourse 2 and concourse 3 is scheduled for completion by 2006. The Cargo Mega Terminal will be constructed in phases and is due to be completed by 2018. By 2006, Dubai International Airport will have the ability to cater for nearly 60 million passengers a year; its present capacity is 22 million. The expansion programme has been divided into five major elements. The first element is the expansion of passenger facilities, including Terminal 3, Concourse 2 and Concourse 3.

The second element incorporates the expansion of cargo facilities, including the Mega Terminal, and the third element is the expansion of airfield facilities, such as new aprons, taxiways, roads, tunnels, runway extension; expansion of special facilities, such as VIP Pavilion, Royal Air Wing, Emirates technical and administration facilities, catering, duty free warehouses; and expansion of infrastructure and support facilities, such as drainage, sewerage, water supply, central utility plants, engineering complex and fuel farm.

According to the DCA, the new design, in addition to being highly innovative, offers a number of distinct advantages such as: simplified, easy passenger flow, both inbound and outbound; reduced walking distances and avoiding tunnel connection; Creating a new visual experience from landside, which will be open and landscaped, providing extensive view of Concourse 2 and airfield operations.

The main features of the Terminal 3 building are a multi-level underground structure, first-class lounges and dedicated counters, restaurants, 180 check-in counters and 2,600 underground parking spaces.

The departures and arrivals halls within the terminal will be located 10 metres below the apron and taxiways, and passenger orientation will be heightened by maintaining visual contact with the landside through fully glazed facade at one end and Concourse 2, with its bright naturally-lit atrium at the other.

Aeroports De Paris International has been drafted in as project design consultant for Terminal 3.