The opening of Terminal A at Zayed International Airport in November 2023 is the result of a 10-year programme delivering one of the world’s largest and most advanced airport terminals.
KEY INFORMATION
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date started: 2012
Completion date: 2023
Client type: infrastructure
Main capabilities: controls and performance, cost and commercial management, project management
Creating a state-of-the-art aviation hub for Abu Dhabi
In 2013 we were appointed to support Abu Dhabi Airports as it embarked on the expansion of its Midfield Terminal Complex at Zayed International Airport. Among major infrastructural improvements to runways, support facilities and road infrastructure, a new terminal capable of accommodating 45 million passengers per year was planned.
The airport’s development is a critical project in relation to the Abu Dhabi Government’s Economic Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy, develop its infrastructure and create a foundation for sustainable growth.
Leveraging our global knowledge
By integrating the experience of our global teams with Abu Dhabi Airports, we supplied a range of critical services, including cost and commercial management, building information modelling (BIM) and project management. At the centre of the programme was the development of the Midfield Terminal (Terminal A), which has set new standards in airport building design, retail planning and passenger efficiency.
In 2023, Zayed International Airport’s traffic increased more than 40 percent year-on-year to 22.5 million passengers. In January 2024, this grew a further 34 percent, with estimates suggesting that capacity will be needed for 65 million passengers over the next ten years.
Key to our input on this project was also creating an integrated programme management office (PMO) to ensure the project was set up for success. This included helping inform capital investment decisions and assisting cost, scheduling and risk management throughout the construction phase.
Delivering sustainable solutions for long-term growth
Building sustainability into the airport’s design and operation was a priority. Construction materials included 75,000 tonnes of steel, 90 percent from recycled sources.
The terminal, comprising 742,000m2 of built-up area, is green building certified under the Estidama Pearl Building Rating System and aligns with UAE's sustainability goals by using energy-efficient lighting, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Seven thousand five hundred photovoltaic solar panels on the terminal’s car park roof generate 3 MW of power, saving 5,500 tons of CO₂ annually.
