(updated to add comments by IATA in Paras 10 and 11)

Abu Dhabi received on Thursday the first test flight from Bahrain's brand-new passenger terminal, marking the completion of the first phase of the 3.7 billion UAE dirhams ($1.1 billion) Bahrain Airport Expansion Project funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD).

The Fund facilitated the project on behalf of the UAE, which extended 9.1 billion dirhams ($2.5 billion) to Bahrain in 2013 as part of its commitment to the GCC Development Programme, according to an ADFD press statement.

Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, ADFD Director General received the Bahraini delegation that included Kamal bin Mohammed, Minister of Transport and Communications and Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

The ADFD statement said the new 210,000 square metre (sqm) terminal is four times the size of the existing one, enabling the airport to double its passenger handling capacity to 14 million annually.

Al Suwaidi said the airport modernisation marks a strong start to Bahrain's development.

Kamal said the airport expansion project will enhance Bahrain's services sector, which is a priority economic sector for Bahrain to establish itself as a regional logistical hub.

"The project, which is one of the largest and most important in the civil aviation sector in more than 20 years, will revitalise tourism and commerce."

Bahrain Airport Expansion Project also includes associated projects, including 5,500 capacity carparks, two receptions, hospitality lounges for first and business class travellers, a building dedicated to private aviation, in addition to a central security gate, a building for fire and rescue services, an area for Duty Free outlets that is four times that of the current area, as well as an aircraft fuelling area. In addition, the new terminal houses a hotel.

The terminal is the largest green facility in Bahrain that has earned a Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LED) Gold Certification.

Muhammad Albakri, IATA Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East said the new terminal is "welcome news for the industry during this difficult time" in a statement issued by global association.

He said: "The new terminal will provide vital capacity and capabilities to cargo operators shipping essential vaccines and PPE equipment immediately, and open the door for increased connectivity once passenger traffic starts to pick up. Aviation is a key pillar of Bahrain’s economy—this has been strengthened today, taking the country one step closer to achieving its Economic Vision 2030 to establish the Kingdom as an aviation centre in the region." 

ADFD has financed 29 projects worth 19.5 billion dirhams ($5.3 billion) to date in various sectors of Bahrain's economy.

(Writing by Syed Ameen Kader; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@refinitiv.com)

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© ZAWYA 2021