Abu Dhabi International Airport seeks bids

The centrepiece of Abu Dhabi International Airport's US$6.8 billion upgrade has now been fielded to potential contractors, with builders having till the 1 February to submit their bids.

The general contract will be for the construction of Abu Dhabi's Midfield Terminal, the "cornerstone of the capital's aviation and tourism growth strategy" and the Supervision Committee for the Expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport (SCADIA) have requested detailed applications from potential bidders.

Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates of London, the Midfield Terminal is a unique futuristic structure in the shape of an 'X'.

Long running project

The project was originally scheduled to open in 2011, but the expansion is currently running four years behind schedule. The first phase is now scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2015.

Airport officials have said the project initially stalled due to "the time needed to bring together all of the stakeholders, from immigration, customs, police and the transport departments". It was also believed that Etihad Airways's new fleet orders meant changes to the design of the terminal.

The new terminal will have a built-up area of 630,000 square metres and is expected to serve more than 20 million passengers a year, as well as roughly tripling the capacity at the airport's existing three terminals. The expansion project will also see the construction of a multi-storey car park, landscaping and air-side developments.

Contractor requirements

SCADIA have stated that bidders should have a turnover of more than US$5 billion a year in order to win the contact, not surprising in the current construction climate, and must have successfully completed five projects of a similar nature in the past decade, two of which must be worth more than US$1 billion.

Evidence that the firm will be able to work in Abu Dhabi, be financially secure and has a proven ability to work under best practices of sustainability will also be required.

Currently, earth-moving is underway at the site, with a new 110-metre tall air traffic control tower expected to be completed within months.

Abu Dhabi's airport, which is served by more than 40 international carriers, was the fastest-growing airport in the world in 2008, according to Airports Council International. This was attributed to the almost exclusive use of Etihad Airlines.

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