Construction of the first runway of Dubai World Central International Airport (JXB), set to be the world’s largest airport, is on target for completion in October 2007. 

“Over 70 per cent of JXB’s first four and a half kilometre CAT III runway is complete with the target month for completion set for October 2007,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Aviation Corporation – Dubai World Central (DWC), Government of Dubai.

“This first runway - of a final six - will enable JXB to commence operations in mid-2008 as the world’s largest passenger and freighter airport and cargo hub.”
 
“The progress, achieved in just over a year, is a reflection of Dubai government’s commitment to the region’s burgeoning aviation infrastructure development. With $82 billion earmarked for this growth in Dubai, the emirate is leading the way across the Middle East, African and South Asian markets, part of a global aviation market which will be worth $2.6 trillion by 2025,” continued Sheikh Ahmed.

With the gathering of many airport suppliers from these markets at the Airport Show currently underway at the Airport Expo Dubai, JXB, which is a greenfield development, has grabbed the spotlight as trade visitors and exhibitors alike are updated about the project’s progress.

JXB is at the core of the massive 140 sq km Dubai World Central (DWC) urban aviation community being built in Jebel Ali just 40 km from Dubai city centre. Al Nabooda Contracting Company, which is building the runway – labelled Runway 12/30 – is also working on three parallel taxiways and associated rapid exits – 40 per cent complete so far, the airside road network and infrastructure services such as airfield lighting, power, water, fire fighting and drainage network.

In conjunction with the adjacent Dubai Logistics City and Jebel Ali port and free zone, JXB forms the world’s first truly integrated multi-modal logistics platform with all transportation modes, logistics and value-added services, such as product manufacturing and assembly, coming together in a single-bonded free zone environment.

The $8.1 billion JXB airport will have a capacity to handle between 120-150 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo annually upon completion. - TradeArabia News Service