Dubai is planning a Dh500 million ($137 million) expansion of the second terminal of the emirate's airport.
The Terminal 2 expansion is part of a $4.1 billion (Dh15 billion) second-phase expansion project of the Dubai International Airport to meet the needs of passengers up to the year 2030. The client is the Department of Civil Aviation.
Terminal 2 expansion will be conducted in two phases. The first phase calls for the construction of an interim terminal. Work on this phase will begin this month and should be completed by August.
The second phase will see the construction of a larger and a more passenger-friendly Terminal 2 by 2005. A special feature of the expansion will include a restaurant facility for 300 persons. to cater to the demands of the charter airlines coming in to Dubai.
The temporary expansion of the existing Terminal 2 building will be built next to the arrivals hall at an estimated cost of Dh14 million ($3.8 million)
Tenders for the estimated Dh486 million final Terminal 2 building are expected to be out by end-2003, with work scheduled for completion in 2005
Terminal 2 will, according to reports, be built in compliance with ICAO regulations which include 100 per cent screening of hold baggage, flow separation of arriving and departing passengers and total access control for staff to restricted areas. The expanded Terminal 2 will be capable of handling multi airline operations and large aircraft such as the A-380. The Department of Civil Aviation is looking to bring in more chartered airlines and Terminal 2 will specially be designed to handle these.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Department of Civil Aviation and chairman of the Emirates Group, commented: "Terminal 2 opened in 1998 and marked the first step towards the completion of the Department of Civil Aviation's farsighted development of the airport for the new millennium. It was part of the $540 million, Dubai International Airport first phase of expansion programme. Terminal 2 was designed essentially to handle chartered, executive and special flights and alleviate the congestion resulting from Terminal 1 renovation.
"When it opened 23 airlines were operating out of it. Today 36 airlines, scheduled and chartered, operate out of the terminal and this figure is expected to grow. On average Terminal 2 has witnessed a 20 per cent growth each year since it opened. 1.2 million passengers used it in 2002, a growth of 26 per cent over 2001. We have exceeded the capacity for Terminal 2 and hence have decided to begin the expansion programme. Total cost for the Terminal 2 expansion project will be $137 million. Terminal 2 expansion is part of the overall $4.1 billion second phase of Dubai International Airport expansion project."
''Maintaining a vision for the future is very much a part of Dubai's success and the Department of Civil Aviation is committed to providing the highest standards of facility to airlines and passengers. We are striving through the expansion programme to meet the travel needs of the influx of business and leisure travellers to the emirate up to the year 2030," said Shaikh Ahmed.