Dubai World Central (DWC) , the 140 sq km aviation community taking shape at Jebel Ali in Dubai, has awarded two key contracts worth $ 44.1 million for emergency services as the world’s largest airport gets ready to receive first cargo flights next year.

Construction of these facilities has already commenced at Dubai World Central International Airport (JXB) – around which five other components are being built, including Dubai Logistics City, Commercial City, Residential City, Golf City and Aviation City – and will be completed by July 2008.
 
Both tenders were awarded to Convergent Value Engineering, an Abu Dhabi-based metallic installation contracting company, for a total of four fire stations and five police facilities buildings.

The fire stations will be built alongside the first taxiways - due for completion by end of 2007 - along the length of the apron zone, which provides fire trucks direct access to the airfield.

“JXB will have some of the most advanced fire control facilities and equipment in the world, providing efficient emergency management,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman, Dubai Aviation Corporation – Dubai World Central, Government of Dubai.  “These fire and police stations will set new benchmarks within the region in the provision of emergency services.”

The main fire station, consisting of a two-floor building, will cover a total of 1,700 sq m, including the vehicular section, service section and the operations staff section, in addition to offices, service and observation rooms, and a total of four truck bays. The three satellite fire stations will consist of one-floor setups and cover a combined area of 1,000 sq m, including the operational sections.

The initial fire stations and the police facilities complex will fulfil emergency and rescue requirements for the early stages of DWC with further expansion slated for later phases.

The police stations will cover 6,415 sq m and consist of a detention building, dog kennels, arms store building, security administration and transportation facility and gate houses.

“The police facilities complex will be a massive structure designed to handle all security requirements,” explained Sheikh Ahmed. “The facility will also serve all areas within the airport jurisdiction covering 68 sq km.”

Currently, work is moving forward on the first 4.5 km A-380 enabled CAT-III runway that is scheduled for completion by October this year. “First flights at JXB are expected mid-2008, when the first passenger and cargo terminals will be ready,” stated Sheikh Ahmed. – TradeArabia News Service