Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council (UPC) has completed the construction of the 53-kilometre Mussafah channel and handed it over to Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC).

The Mussafah channel will provide access with an increased water depth to service the Mussafah Industrial Zone.  

“The increased depth of the new channel will provide greater economic opportunities to the existing Mussafah Industrial Zone by allowing a significant expansion of operations and penetration into the global markets, which will in turn have a positive impact on Abu Dhabi’s economy,” says Falah al-Ahbabi, general manager of the UPC.

The newly completed channel will now become the main water access way to the Mussafah Industrial Area replacing the original access waterway, which will now only be used by small ships.

The AED1.5bn ($408.4m) channel allows for two-way traffic of large Panamax bulk carriers. The local National Marine Dredging Company carried out the dredging works.

ADPC is currently developing the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), which involves the construction of Khalifa port. The first phase of Kizad is scheduled to open at the end of 2012 (MEED 26:1:11).