The Supervision Committee for the Expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport (Scadia) has awarded the local Saif bin Darwishthe rough grading package for the new runway at the airport. The six-month contract covers site preparation and landfill.

For the main runway tender, Scadia is evaluating prequalifications from contractors to build the 4.1-kilometre runway and is due to release tender documents in September. The UK's Halcrowis consultant for the runway.

Four design companies have been given until early October to submit proposals for the new midfield terminal, while the request for proposals (RFPs) for the design of the control tower is expected to be released imminently.

The first-phase expansion, to be completed by 2010, is designed to handle 20 million passengers a year. Parsons International, also of the US, is the programme manager (MEED 17:6:05).