Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, yesterday got briefed on a number of engineering designs for Al Maktoum International Airport, deemed to be world's biggest airport when completed.
Flanked by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group and Khalifa Saeed Sulieman, Director General of the Protocol and Hospitality Department in Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed viewed visual presentation about the development of air, land and maritime transport in Dubai and the updating of these facilities in Dubai city, which has become after more than fifty years of development, modernisation and construction, on the top cities in the world.
Sheikh Mohammed examined maps and designs of the project whose cost would touch Dh120 billion after completion of the first phase. He and his entourage were briefed by Engineer Khalifa Al Zafeen, CEO of Dubai Airports and project supervisor engineers about the characteristics and advantages of each of the proposed designs prepared by "Dubai Aviation Engineering projects" at Dubai Airports.
Sheikh Mohammed expressed his admiration about "the light box-the jewel design" given its conformity to the local environment. He ordered the endorsement and implementation of the design.
He said the project would effectively boost the aviation sector, especially in the areas of transport, cargo and investment, noting that it would further notch the U.A.E. in general and Dubai in particular in the aviation industry map. Sheikh Mohammed noted that such development and investment projects serve the country and citizens as well. He added that "We look forward to providing the-state-of-art infrastructure and build stronger and diversified national economy to sustain welfare of Emirati people.
Sheikh Mohammed stressed that all the U.A.E. ports would remain open to the world so as to view "Our authentic Islamic and Arabic culture and sense the country's tolerance as well as our achievements and local environment." For his part, Sheikh Ahmed said that the project will be implemented in two phases, covering land area of 56 square kilometres in Jebel Ali district, which is 40km away from Dubai downtown.