Abu Dhabi International Airport Expansion – United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The Abu Dhabi International Airport is one of the fastest-growing aviation hubs in the world. Recognizing the need to increase capacity, enhance the passenger experience, and establish the airport as a world-class transit hub, the Abu Dhabi Airports Company initiated the major airport expansion program in 2005. Geared towards increasing capacity from 14 million to 45 million annual passengers by 2030, the program aims to deliver improvements to existing facilities while simultaneously preparing for anticipated future needs. From the start, Parsons has worked as the sole prime contractor on the project providing design, build, operations, and maintenance services.

Using People And Systems To Drive Success

Structured in phases, the program consists of both renovation and reconstruction as well as new works such as the Midfield Terminal Building (MTB), which is being constructed between the airport’s two runways, allowing for the shortest possible journey from runway to parking stand. The associated Midfield Terminal Complex (MTC) incorporates the MTB, along with surrounding support facilities and infrastructure. The MTC is a new 65-gate, 700,000-square-meter (7.5 million-square-foot) passenger terminal.

Midfield Terminal Building constructed at Abu Dhabi International Airport

Managed by Parsons, all work was planned and executed with minimal disruption to live operations. The Capacity Enhancement Program (CEP) works for the MTB and MTC include:

• Construction of new terminal facilities
• Improvements to Terminals 1, 2 and 3
• Abu Dhabi Airports (ADAC) fuel parking
• T1 and T3 potable water upgrade
• Construction of new aircraft stands
• Landside roads and car parks
• State-of-the-art security systems
• Upgrades to the in-flight catering building
• A new customs border protection facility (CBP) for flights to the USA
• The expansion of the existing power complex
• Airport operations area perimeter fence

Sustainability In Action

To meet the client’s overall mission of “leveraging innovation and synergy to deliver competitive benefits” we worked to design the new Midfield Terminal Building (MTB) in line with the local sustainability initiative, Estidama, a building design rating framework to assure that sustainability is continually addressed through four pre-defined pillars: environmental, economic, social and cultural. Our participation in conjunction with the Airport’s engineering team has helped the project successfully achieve a 3 Pearl Design Rating from the Estidama Pearl Building Rating System (PBRS). The MTB is also currently the largest sustainable building in the Estidama program.

We also led Value Engineering (VE) exercises with the client, which resulted in project savings of around AED1.05 billion. We delivered these savings by working collaboratively, adopting a phased approach, and implementing several cost-saving measures during design and procurement.

Abu Dhabi International Airport Project Scope

• Program management
• Design and engineering management
• Cost and budget management
• Cost and schedule management
• Operational planning
• Value Engineering (VE)
• Quality Assurance (QA)
• Constructability reviews
• Safety and security management
• Contract administration
• Claims assessment
• Operational readiness and airport transfer (ORAT) liaison
• Facility startup and turnover

As A Part Of This Project, Parsons Is Also Delivering:

• Bus gates and Etihad Lounge design and construction
• Transfer baggage facilities
• Airfield lighting and control management systems design-build
• Terminal 1 fire/life safety system upgrade
• The supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the airport-wide fiber-optic networks, including IT, security, and government networks
• Airside works (including apron works)
• Landside works (including road improvements, car parks, and security gates)

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