Entrant: Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects Corporation (DAEP)
Project owner: DAEP
Project contractors: Alec, Al-Naboodah Contracting, Cleveland Bridge, Siemens Dematic Middle East, ThyssenKrupp Elevators
Engineering consultants: Dar al-Handasah Shair & Partners, ADPI, Trafalgar Technical Services
Architects: Dar al-Handasah Shair & Partners, ADPI, Retail Concepts Design

Description: Dubai International airport’s Concourse A is the first purpose-built A380 facility in the world, spanning 528,000 square metres and including 20 contact gates and the world’s first five-level automated boarding management system.

The development is part of DAEP’s plan to expand passenger-handling capacity at the airport, and can accommodate 25 million passengers a year. The project was a challenge as it entailed constructing the concourse without disruption to other airport activities. The building comprises five basement levels and six levels of superstructure, with a gross floor area of more than 500,000 sq m.

There is also an automated people-mover system linking the building to Concourse B. A DAEP specialist operational readiness and testing team conducted thorough testing of all the elements of the concourse, ensuring the facility operated efficiently and reliably from its opening.