In a further sign of the massive airport development currently taking place in the Middle East, it has been announced that a new international airport will be built at Ajman in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Construction work to build Ajman International Airport - the fourth international airport in the UAE - is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2008, subject to approval.

The airport, which will be capable of handling more than 1 million passengers in its first three years of operation, is scheduled to open in 2011. It will be constructed by a consortium of four European companies.

Ajman will cover some 6 million square metres, and will be built in two stages with the first phase including the construction of the runway, main terminal buildings, cargo complex and maintenance and engineering facilities.

Middle East Cargo Market

It is intended that Ajman will primarily aim to capture the cargo market, with 65% of its capacity dedicated to this sector. The remaining 35% of capacity will be focused on passengers using low-fare carriers.

His Highness Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, commented: "Studies show that the country [UAE] needs more airports to cope with the rapid economic development and growing passenger and cargo traffic."

New Airport Shows Signs of Development

The announcement of the Ajman development is the latest indication of the rapid rate of airport development in the Middle East.

No fewer than 11 new airports are now set for construction in the region, in addition to the re-development of existing hubs such as Dubai International.

The jewel in the crown of this development will be the new six-runway Al-Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, part of the Dubai World Central development, which on opening will become the world's biggest international airport.

The total investment in the region's airports exceeds $38 billion.

Source - Airport International's Middle East Correspondent

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