DUBAI, 6 March 2007 — Construction on the Middle East’s highest air traffic control tower worth an estimated AED143 million has begun at Dubai World Central — the urban aviation community taking shape at Jebel Ali in Dubai.
Awarded to Arabtec/Max Bogl, a Dubai-German joint venture company, the project consists of a 91 metre-high air traffic control tower and a technical block of 6,000 square meters which will house offices, operations, technical rooms, flight simulator and a meteor observation cabin.
“This will be a unique structure, the highest in the Middle East and an iconic landmark for the region’s aviation industry,” said Sheikh Ahmed ibn Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority — Dubai World Central.
“Construction of the tower has started on site and once completed will be a magnificent sight. This will be one of the most technologically advanced units in the world, placing the Middle East in the forefront of global avionics development.”
The tower is toward the southeast of Dubai World Central International Airport (JXB) in close proximity to the passenger terminal building which is also being constructed by the same joint venture. The facility has an airside/landside interface with secured access to airside, offering air traffic controllers the ability to handle multiple airborne airplanes as well as grounded craft. JXB, when completed, will be the world’s largest airport with six parallel 4.5 kilometer runways, up to 16 cargo terminals, two mega passenger terminals and six concourses, with a capacity to handle 120 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo annually.
“The air traffic control tower and the technical blocks are metal clad and glazed — the latest recommended good practice in construction which will enable the designers to achieve the best results in their lighting, heating and durability objectives,” Sheikh Ahmed said.
“The tower, along with the passenger terminal which is currently being built to cater to seven million passengers, will be operational in 2009 and will be regulated by an air traffic service company under the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA).”
Dubai World Central (DWC) is a 140-square kilometer urban aviation community centered around the world’s largest international airport. Currently being built 40 kilometers from the existing Dubai International Airport, the project is almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island.
DWC creates a new benchmark in urban planning and destination living designed to support Dubai’s aviation, tourism, commercial and logistics requirements until 2050 and represents one of the most important developments in the history of the UAE.
Eventually home to 900,000 people, DWC will be true “city-within-a-city” with all the amenities that make up a world-class residential destination.
DWC, with infrastructure costs estimated at $33 billion, comprises six specialized clustered zones: Dubai World Central International Airport (JXB), Dubai Logistics City (DLC), which also includes a dedicated aviation area, Commercial City, Residential City, Enterprise Park and a 36-hole golf resort.
