25 January 2015
- Board of Directors review progress and reports on achieved milestone

- Curtain Walling and Roof Works are underway

Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi Airports' Board of Directors carried out a site visit to the Midfield Terminal Building(MTB) last week to review the progress made on the future gateway to the capital city.

The tour was led by H.E. Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, joined by members of the board, H.E. Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, H.E. AwaidaMurshed Al Marar, and H.E. Abu Baker Siddiq Al Khouri, along with members from the company's executive and project team.

H.E. Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: "The year 2015 is destined to be a defining year for Abu Dhabi Airports.  Last year Abu Dhabi International Airport registered 20% increase in traffic, which translated into 20 million passengers passing through its terminals. In 2015 we will witness further growth with a record24 million passengers forecasted to pass through Abu Dhabi International Airport. In parallel, the Midfield Terminal Building will registerthe achievement of several key milestones this yearas the building structure takes its eventual form."

Al Mansoori continued: "Our Board of Directors and I wanted to start this year by observing the remarkable progress being made in the delivery of this iconicbuilding and, as always, I am proud of whatwe have witnessed. With 99% of steel works completed on all four piers, the building structure has become a visible landmark from the air and the ground, for both passengers flying in and out of Abu Dhabi as well as residents driving by.This achievement has allowed us to start the building enclosure around the piers, which will enable the building structure to take its final shape during the course of 2015" added Al Mansoori. 

The MTB has four piers that accommodate 65 stands in total. The longest pier stretches over 500mwith all four piers using a total of13,300 tonnes of steel. The building enclosure includes the glass works for the curtain walling and roofing works, which will consume 175,000 sqm of glass for the curtain walling and 260,000 sqm of aluminium for theroof.

The MTB is one of the world's largest passenger terminals that will house the latest technologies available worldwide, including a tote-based baggage handling system (BHS) that is capable of handling 19,000 bags per hour. Commenting on the progress in the BHS system, Al Mansoori said: "We are seeing today a fast advancement in the installation of the baggage handling system, whichis considered the heart of any airport operation. The BHS is situated below the departure level in the central processing area of the MTB, and is progressing in parallel with the mechanical and electrical works for the entire building, which will be completed by Q4 2016."

Alongside the MTB, works on the airfield and terminal taxiway are witnessing similar progress. "Today we start the ground works on the Automated People Mover (APM) Tunnel that will connect the MTB to the future terminal buildings at Abu Dhabi International Airport. This is a key strategic milestone for Abu Dhabi Airports as it paves the way for future growth of aviation within the Emirate and the region, beyond 2017" Al Mansooriadded. "We are also in the midst of completing the piling works for the primary road, which will connect the MTB to the main Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway."

"The MTB is the cornerstone of a broader plan to transform Abu Dhabi International Airport and accomplish our aim of becoming a global transportation hub. As it continues to take shape, with evidence of progress visible on a daily basis, the achievement of that objective draws ever closer. More and more people are choosing Abu Dhabi as their preferred location for business, holidays and transit and we are determined to ensure that their experience when they arrive and depart more than meets the standards the modern traveller has come to expect" Al Mansoori concluded.

-Ends-

About Abu Dhabi Airports
Abu Dhabi Airports is a public joint-stock company wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi Government. It was incorporated by Amiri Decree number 5, issued on 4 March 2006, to spearhead the development of the Emirate's aviation infrastructure. In September 2006, Abu Dhabi Airports assumed responsibility for the operation and management of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain International Airports. In 2008, Abu Dhabi Airports added Al Bateen Executive Airport (an exclusive business aviation airport), as well as Sir Bani Yas and Delma Island Airports to its portfolio. These airports are geared to serve the various segments of air travelers, the aviation marketplace, and will help contribute to Abu Dhabi's development as a destination for both business and leisure tourism.

Currently under way is the multi-billion dollar re-development and expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport designed to increase the overall capacity of the airport to more than 40 million passengers per year.

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Layla Haroon
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© Press Release 2015