Abu Dhabi International Airport will be one of the largest state-of-the-art airports in the world, with a capacity to accommodate 30 million passengers per year by 2019, said H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, following a tour of the Midfield Terminal Building (MTB) on Sunday.

''The expansion work on the airport is proceeding smoothly as planned. When the work is completed in 2019, the airport will be able to receive 30 million passengers per year. At that time, we will be up to the challenge and are confident of succeeding,'' HH Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed added.

''Abu Dhabi International Airport will be the jewel in the crown of the infrastructure projects in the emirate, and it will constitute a paradigm shift in international standards to cope with the development the UAE capital Abu Dhabi is currently witnessing, under the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who is conducting a close follow-up of projects, '' he said.

''We are always looking forward and the airport project will reflect this evolving vision,'' Sheikh Hazza added.

''The remarkable and tangible progress of the Abu Dhabi airport exemplifies our openness to the world, and thanks to this open environment of tolerance and competitive services, the capital has become a favourite destination for other nationalities,'' he noted.

During his tour of the complex, Sheikh Hazza surveyed the central terminal space, the duty-free zone area, the under-construction transit hotel, the moving sidewalks and the administration office building. He also made a stop to review the 28-metre-high arch which stretches up to 180 metre at the entrance, making it one of the world's largest internal arches. H.H.'s also visited the departures and arrivals halls and parking facilities, as well as the transit passengers’ section.

Stretching over 742,000 square metres, the MTB will be the largest in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and will be visible from more than 1.5km away. It will house 65 aircraft gates and have 3,500sq.m. of duty-free zone.

Source: WAM