Dubai World Central opens in 2010

The Dubai Government's largest urban land development project, Dubai World Central (DWC), is set to go live in its first phase of operation when DWC-Al Maktoum International Airport opens in June 2010.  ''At the core of this airport city will be the world's largest airport, DWC-Al Maktoum International, which once operational next year will not only draw business and trade to it but also create huge residential and commercial opportunities,'' said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Kaktoum, chairman of Dubai Aviation Corporation.At the airport, the construction of the 16 cargo terminals has been completed - the ultimate objective being an annual cargo capacity of 12 million tonnes. The first passenger terminal is 80 percent complete with MEP works ongoing.   The terminal will have an eventual capacity of seven million passengers with the airport's ultimate capacity being 160 million annually.   Standing at 91 metres, construction of the Middle East's tallest free standing Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower has also been completed, and is currently being fitted with all navigational aids. The ATC facility includes a separate technical block of 6,000 square metres which will house offices, operations, technical rooms, flight simulators and a meteor observation cabin.  ''While we have extended the opening date of the project to accommodate all related construction, licensing and regulatory standards, we have not lost sight of the long-term vision of Dubai's most strategically important infrastructure development which is designed to support Dubai's aviation, tourism, commercial and logistics requirements until 2050 and beyond,'' Sheikh Ahmed added. ''Our vision for Dubai is to be an unparalleled global commercial, trade and transportation hub with a unique integrated multi-modal logistics platform in DWC which will change all known air, land and sea transportation parameters.''