The installation of the steel structure of the central processor roof has been completed at the Midfield Terminal Building (MTB), the centrepiece of the Midfield Terminal Complex (MTC) development at Abu Dhabi International airport (ADIA).

This will be followed by the depropping of the final arch in the central processor, while work is ongoing on the closure of the building envelope and fit-out of the terminal’s four piers, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac) said in a statement.

The MTB roof span is 319 metres at the widest point, with 18 arches, the largest of which is 180 metres wide and 52 metres high.

All depropping works for the roof are expected to be completed by the end of May. Once structural works are completed and the building envelope is complete, Adac will start handing over the internal space to concessionaires so they can commence fit-out work.

The MTB is envisaged to become the largest architectural structure in Abu Dhabi, visible from more than 1.5 kilometres away. The new terminal is situated between the two runways at ADIA, providing the shortest possible journey from runway to parking stand and allowing a quicker and smoother experience for passengers.

Work on the $2.9bn MTC complex is on track for completion in 2017, the CEO of flag carrier Etihad Airways, James Hogan, said in early March.

Some 23.3 million passengers passed through ADIA’s three existing terminals in 2015, marking a 17 per cent increase on the previous year. Ongoing developments aim to expand the airport’s capacity to about 45 million passengers a year.

Apart from the MTB, the airport expansion work includes a multi-storey car park and airside infrastructure.