US$ 1.33 billion Dubai Airport contract

A consortium comprising Al Habtoor, Murray & Roberts and Takenaka (HMRT) has won the AED 4.9 billion (US$ 1.33 billion) contract to build the new Concourse 3 at Dubai Airport by Dubai's Department of Civil Aviation (DCA). Work is due to start immediately, with completion due in April 2011.

Concourse 3 will be connected to the two main public levels of the airport's Terminal 3 via and automated people mover. It will also include tunnels for baggage handling and airport vehicles. Other public facilities in the 528000 m² structure will include a one four-star and one five-star hotel, first- and business-class lounges and duty-free shopping.

The building will be 645 m long, 90 m wide and 42 m high in the centre. It will have 20 aircraft stands, 18 of which will be able to accommodate an Airbus A380.

The HMRT consortium, comprising Al Habtoor Engineering (40%), Murray & Roberts (40%) and Takenaka (20%) was the contractor responsible for the Airport's Terminal 3 and Concourse 2, and the group said these successes were a deciding factor in it winning the Concourse 3 project. Al Habtoor Engineering is 45% owned by Leighton.

"Our success on Terminal 3 and Concourse 2, which was successfully opened in October this year and has been operating extremely efficiently, was a key factor in the joint venture securing Concourse 3," a spokesman for HMRT said.

He added, "Dubai airport is the key aviation hub in the Gulf region and one of the most important airports in the world, and we are delighted to be playing a key role in its continued development."