Estimated to be worth $250 million-300 million, it will involve the construction of a two-storey building, to house arrival and departure lounges, 11 bays, six remote bays and a 7,000-square-metre shopping area. A cinema complex, meeting rooms, three large lounges and parking for 400 cars will also be built.

The prospective bidders for the contract include Japan's Takenaka Corporation, Germany's Strabag, Australia's Multiplex Constructions, Philipp HolzmannAbu Dhabi, part of Germany's Philipp Holzmann Khalifa International,the local/South African joint venture of Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises with Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East), Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) with Hochtief of Germany, Belgium's Six Construct, the UK's Balfour Beatty, Cyprus-based Joannou & Pasarkevaides (J&P - Overseas) and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company and Samsung Corporation, both of South Korea.

The new terminal, to be linked to the existing terminal, will have capacity to handle 4 million passengers a year. Work on the new terminal is due to be completed by early 2005.

The expansion project, estimated to cost $600 million, will be tendered in three packages. The two other packages will be for the construction of a second runway and titanium roofing for the proposed new terminal's arch-shaped roof.

The design for the new terminal has been prepared by France's Aeroports de Paris. The UK's Halcrow Group is the consultant for the second runway. The client is Abu Dhabi'sWorks Department.