Set to become Abu Dhabi’s new airline hub, Midfield Terminal will expand travel operations in Abu Dhabi by doubling the number of passengers landing in the capital per year. Developed to further Abu Dhabi’s 2030 vision of increasing tourism in the region, the new terminal will welcome around 30 million passengers a year. It will also be able to accommodate 65 aircrafts at any time, and provide passengers with a simplified way to travel with 156 check-in counters and 48 self-service kiosks. With the capacity of holding 8,500 passengers an hour, minimum connection time will be cut to just 45 minutes including the transfer of baggage from the airline to the terminal. A 27-kilometre long baggage handling system will be capable of processing 19,000 bags per hour.
Planning and construction for the 700,000 square meter terminal began in 2012 and is expected to be completed in December 2017.
AECOM has been involved in the project since the beginning stages, providing construction management, construction supervision, cost management and sustainability services. Specifically we are responsible for the construction aspects of the Midfield Terminal building as well as the associated air and landside infrastructure. In total, 19 packages are included within the project, including managing cost, scheduling, quality and health and safety.
Comprising a full terminal building, passenger and cargo facilities, duty free shops and restaurants, the terminal will minimize impact on the environment through the use of cutting-edge design elements and innovations.
The project has placed sustainability at the forefront during the design, construction and workings of the terminal. The airport has been awarded a 3 Pearl design rating from the Estidama green building rating system making it the largest singular building to be rated globally and the highest rated airport terminal in the GCC.
In addition to the use of recycled materials, the use of regionally-sourced materials has cut down on carbon emissions due to shorter journeys to site. Equally 75 percent of construction waste is being diverted from landfills during the construction phase.
In 2015, the project achieved a remarkable safety milestone of 60 million safe hours without a lost time incident.