Dubai is accelerating its expansion with the goal of becoming the "new heart of global aviation". In mid June, the local aviation engineering company Dirham Aviation Engineering Project Construction Bureau (DAEP) officially launched the bidding for the first phase of the foundation project of Al Maktoum International Airport. A total of 14 international contractors were shortlisted, including China Aviation Industry Group, China Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd., China Aviation Technology International Engineering Co., Ltd., China State Construction Engineering Group, and China Electric Power Construction Group.

The first phase of the project is planned to be completed in 2032 and will eventually become the world's largest airport, with an annual passenger volume of 260 million and a cargo volume of 12 million tons. This bidding covers the foundation construction of the West Terminal and supporting transportation system, which is a key starting point for airport construction.

The Dubai government plans to relocate all operations of the current Dubai International Airport to the new airport within the next decade, and build an aviation city that can accommodate millions of people, promoting the development of aviation, logistics, and high-end manufacturing industry clusters. Chinese enterprises have become one of the most competitive participants with their technological advantages in desert super high-rise buildings, high-temperature foundation treatment, and aviation hub loads.

Analysis indicates that if Chinese enterprises successfully win the bid for foundation engineering, it will help them participate in related projects such as automated metro and luggage systems, and further expand their cooperation space in the high-end infrastructure market in the Middle East. This project is also seen as a key opportunity for China Construction to move towards the high-end of the global industrial chain. (This article is from the official website www.seetao.com of Jian Dao. Reproduction without permission is prohibited, otherwise it will be prosecuted. Please indicate Jian Dao website+original link when reprinting.) Jian Dao website infrastructure engineering column editor/Yang Beihua