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DCA to sign pact with Swiss firm for Dubai Flower Centre

DUBAI — Dubai Flower Centre, which is scheduled to be operational in October, will be run by the Swiss-based ADI, which specialises in logistics of perishables, a senior official from Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) disclosed yesterday.

According to Khalifa Al Zaffin, director, engineering project, DCA, a memorandum of understanding to that extent was signed between DCA and ADI two years ago, while the actual contract will be signed this year. He told this paper: “It will be kind of a joint venture, where DCA will have 90 per cent stake.”

Al Zaffin, who spoke after a presentation on the progress of the Dubai International Airport expansion project, also said that the new Jebel Ali Airport will eventually involve an investment of Dh30 billion in different phases up to the year 2020.

The phase one of the airport to be built at the cost of Dh1 billion is expected to start catering to cargo, logistics and charter flights sometime next year. The first phase includes a runway facility to handle cargo, which will be part of the dubai Logistics City. The plan visualises the construction at a later stage of six runways and an airport capable of handling 12 million tonnes of cargo and 120 million passengers annually.

Al Zaffin said that a committee comprising DCA and Dubai Municipality teams has been set up to find out the ways of connecting the two airports by train. “The corridor is already reserved for this (railway),” he said, adding that although the future light rail project is expected to pass by the two airports, there is still need for a direct, non-stop train.

Meanwhile, major airport expansions across the Middle East, Africa and Indian subcontinent will be reflected by a record gathering of suppliers from around the world at the Airport Build & Supply exhibition, which opens at Airport Expo Dubai tomorrow.

The exhibition takes place at a time when, according to research by the organisers, Streamline Marketing, airport development and expansions worth more than $20 billion are currently taking place in the Gulf. Apart from the $4.1 billion revamp of Dubai International Airport and the building of the new Jebel Ali Airport, projects attracting the attention of suppliers also include the $5 billion new Doha International Airport.