General Information
Location
The new airport project is located in Fujairah, UAE, and is expected to serve as a significant hub for the region, providing improved connectivity for passengers and cargo. The city offers a strategic location as Fujairah is strategically located on the east coast of the UAE, near the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Having an airport in Fujairah could improve connectivity and accessibility for the region, both for passengers and cargo. Additionally, the city is prone to economic development as it can provide economic benefits to the area by creating jobs and supporting the growth of local businesses. It can attract tourists and investors to the region, stimulating economic growth (Monterrubio et al., 2020). Lastly, it fosters diversification since having an airport in Fujairah can help diversify the UAE’s economy. Currently, the UAE’s economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas; having an airport in Fujairah could help the country to diversify its economy and develop other sectors, such as tourism and logistics.
Capacity
The airport will have the capacity to handle up to 50 million passengers per year. This high capacity will allow the airport to accommodate the growing demand for air travel in the region and support the growth of the local economy. This high capacity is essential for the new airport project, as it will allow the airport to accommodate the growing demand for air travel in the region. With an increasing population and economic growth, the need for air travel is expected to increase, and a high-capacity airport will be able to handle this growth. Various factors, such as the number of gates, terminals, runways, taxiways, parking aprons, and air traffic control facilities, determine an airport’s capacity. The airport’s degree is affected by the types of aircraft it can accommodate and the efficiency of its ground handling and air traffic control operations.
Timeline
The project is expected to take five years to complete, with an estimated budget of $5 billion. This timeline is an essential factor to consider for the new airport project as it sets the expectations for when the project will be completed and helps to plan and manage the project’s resources and activities. The timeline plays a crucial role in determining the project’s budget and identifying potential risks and challenges (Gad et al., 2019). The five years timeline allows for sufficient time to design, construct, and commission the new airport facilities and allows for any unforeseen challenges that may arise during the project. Nevertheless, the construction of an airport is a complex process that involves various stages, such as site preparation, excavation, building construction, and commissioning. Each phase of the project requires specific time and resources.
Project Overview
Features
The features of the proposed airport are designed to improve the overall travel experience for passengers and make the airport more competitive. The new airport will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including a new terminal building, runway, taxiways, aprons, and an air traffic control tower. These features will be built to the highest standards and equipped with the latest technology to ensure safety and efficiency (Keskin et al., 2020). Additionally, the airport will have advanced technology, such as automation and artificial intelligence, to improve efficiency and reduce costs. For example, automation can be used in baggage handling systems, security screenings, and check-in processes to speed up the passenger’s journey and reduce waiting times. The use of artificial intelligence in air traffic control systems can help to improve safety and efficiency.
Facilities
In addition to the outlined features, the new airport will have facilities, including cargo, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), utility and support, and ground transportation structures. Cargo facilities include cargo terminals, warehouses, and handling equipment. These facilities are designed to handle the storage and movement of cargo and freight. MRO facilities are used for the maintenance and repair of aircraft (Alazemi & Mohiuddin, 2019). They include hangars, workshops, and equipment storage areas. Moreover, utility facilities that promote the airport’s daily running will be integrated, including power plants, water treatment plants, fuel storage and dispensing facilities, fire stations, and emergency response facilities. Lastly, ground transportation equipment such as car rental facilities and public transportation systems will be available.
Infrastructure
The project will include the construction of new road and rail infrastructure to connect the airport to the surrounding area. This will improve accessibility for passengers and cargo and support the growth of local businesses. Additionally, road and rail connections can help to stimulate economic development in the surrounding area by creating jobs and supporting the growth of local companies. Effective road and rail connections can help improve the airport’s connectivity to other regional destinations, such as other cities or towns. This can make the airport more attractive to passengers, providing them with more travel options (Shrestha et al., 2020). Moreover, road and rail connections can help improve the airport’s multi-modal connectivity by providing passengers with easy access to other modes of transportation, such as buses, trains, or subways. This can help to reduce the reliance on cars and improve the overall travel experience for passengers.
Project Deliverables
Operational Capacity
The new airport will handle up to 50 million passengers annually and will be designed to accommodate the latest aircraft, including the A380. The airport’s facilities, such as the runway, taxiways, and aprons, will be built to handle heavy aircraft traffic. The air traffic control tower will have advanced navigation and communication systems. A proper operational capacity ensures that the airport can take the expected number of passengers and aircraft, which can help to reduce congestion and improve the overall travel experience for passengers (Koseoglu et al., 2019). Additionally, it ensures that the airport’s facilities and equipment are built to handle the expected number of passengers and aircraft, which can help to ensure safety and reduce the risk of accidents and incidents.
Road and Rail Infrastructure
The road and rail connections should be designed to handle the expected number of vehicles and trains, and they should be able to accommodate future growth and demand. This can be achieved by developing the connections to have multiple lanes, grade-separated intersections, and efficient traffic management systems. Additionally, the selected design should minimize the environmental impact and be sustainable (Mishra et al., 2020). This can be achieved by designing energy-efficient connections, using sustainable materials, and minimizing the impact on the surrounding ecosystem. Lastly, the roads and rails are expected to be built in regions with good lighting, clear visibility, and well-engineered intersections. This situation will promote safety for passengers, pedestrians, and drivers.
Environment Impact Assessment and Mitigation Plan
The project will include an environmental impact assessment to evaluate the potential impact of the project on the environment and a mitigation plan to minimize the adverse effects. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is usually a legal requirement for many construction projects, including airport projects, to comply with local and national regulations and laws. Additionally, an EIA helps to identify and evaluate the project’s potential environmental impacts, such as air, water, and soil pollution, noise, and effects on biodiversity and protected areas, and cultural and historical sites. Once the potential impacts have been identified, a mitigation plan can be developed to minimize or avoid the negative consequences (Biancardo et al., 2020). For example, the mitigation plan may include using low-emission construction equipment, restoring or conserving habitats, and mitigating noise pollution.
Project Documentation
Project documentation such as project charter, project plan, risk management plan, quality plan, and project closeout report will be developed and delivered. These will serve as a means of communication between project team members, stakeholders, and other parties involved in the project. It helps to ensure that everyone clearly understands the project’s objectives, scope, schedule, and budget (Lv et al., 2019). Additionally, they will help plan and track the project’s progress. It includes documents such as project charter, project plan, risk management plan, and quality plan, which are essential tools to help define the project’s objectives, scope, schedule, budget, and risk management.
Work Breakdown Structure
A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for constructing a new airport in UAE could be organized as shown in Table 1.
Table 1. The Work Breakdown Structure of Airport Construction
Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities
Government
The government is likely to be the project’s main sponsor and funding source. It means that the government will provide necessary financial resources such as the project’s money. Additionally, the government will be responsible for obtaining the required approvals and permits for constructing the new airport. This could include environmental permits, land-use permits, and building permits. Lastly, it will be involved in setting the policies and regulations the airport must adhere to (Hubbard & Hubbard, 2019). These policies and regulations may include safety and security standards, environmental laws, and land-use regulations.
Airport Operator
The airport operator is responsible for the airport’s day-to-day operations and will ensure that the airport is operated in compliance with safety and security standards. Moreover, they will ensure that the airport is financially viable and generates sufficient revenue to cover its costs (Greer et al., 2020). Generally, this stakeholder will evaluate the economic relevance of the airport construction project.
Project Manager, Contractor, and Design Team
The project manager is responsible for the overall management of the project, including planning, execution, and control. They are responsible for ensuring that the project is completed on time, within budget, and to stakeholders’ satisfaction. The contractor is liable for constructing the airport facilities, including the terminal building, runway, taxiways, aprons, and air traffic control tower. The design team is responsible for the design of the airport facilities, including the terminal building, runway, taxiways, aprons, and air traffic control tower (Khalef & El-adaway, 2021). Besides, they will guarantee that the design complies with safety and quality standards and is consistent with the project’s scope, schedule, and budget.
Project Constraints
The four main constraints likely to be experienced are time, cost, legal matters, and environment. Time constraints refer to the specific time frame within which the project must be completed. For example, the project may need to be completed within a particular timeframe to meet the local community’s needs or comply with a regulatory deadline. Additionally, the specificity of the budget, $5 billion, may make the construction sponsors absorb extra costs. The project may be faced with legal and regulatory issues, especially if the workers fail to comply with UAE safety and security standards (Abbondati et al., 2020). Lastly, environmental constraints may affect the project significantly when constrained by the presence of protected habitats or cultural or historical sites or by the need to comply with environmental regulations.
Project Appraisal of New Airport
Job Creation and Economic Growth
The construction of a new airport in the UAE can create jobs for a wide range of workers, such as engineers, construction workers, architects, and planners. Once operational, the airport creates jobs for airport staff, such as security personnel, baggage handlers, and customer service representatives. Additionally, the UAE is a central hub for international trade and tourism, and a new airport can further boost economic growth by attracting more businesses and tourists to the region (Liu et al., 2019). The airport can open up new business markets, creating trade and investment opportunities.
Increased Tourism and Improved Connectivity
A new airport in the UAE can increase tourism by making it easier for people to travel to the region. The new airport can attract more visitors by providing more direct flight options, shorter travel times, and increased capacity. This can lead to an increased number of visitors to the UAE and the amount of money they spend on the local economy. This can boost the revenue of the country and the local businesses, which benefit from increased tourism. Additionally, the airport can improve connectivity between different regions and cities within the UAE and with other countries. This can make it easier for people to travel for business or pleasure. Improved connectivity can facilitate trade and investment by providing more efficient transportation options for businesses. The new airport can connect remote areas to the rest of the world, making it easier for residents to access education, healthcare, and other services (Armenia et al., 2019). It can catalyze development in less-developed areas by attracting investment and creating jobs.
Diversification of the Economy
The new airport in the UAE can contribute to diversifying the economy by making it less dependent on oil and gas and more on services such as tourism, logistics, and transportation. The airport can attract more tourists and businesses, creating more jobs and revenue for the country (Armenia et al., 2019). This can reduce the economy’s dependence on the fluctuation of oil prices and provide a more stable income for the country.
Other Recommendations and Suggestions
Despite the presence of an effective project plan, there needs to be improvements for the desired goals to be achieved. Firstly, there should be a detailed and realistic project schedule and budget to ensure on-time completion. This schedule and budget should consider all the tasks that need to be completed, the resources required, and the time and cost estimates for each job. Secondly, there needs to be clear lines of communication and regular meetings with all stakeholders to ensure all concerns are addressed. Regular meetings with stakeholders help ensure that their concerns are addressed and aligned with their expectations. Thirdly, regular progress reviews and risk assessments should be conducted to identify and mitigate problems. By performing regular inspections, the project team can take proactive measures to minimize potential problems before they become significant (Armenia et al., 2019). Lastly, a robust contingency plan should be developed in case of unforeseen circumstances. This plan should include backup solutions for critical tasks, alternative resources, and a clear communication plan to inform stakeholders of any changes.
Conclusion
Building a new airport in UAE will significantly benefit the region, including increased capacity, improved air travel and cargo handling efficiency, advanced technology systems, and environmental compliance. The project will be completed in multiple phases, with the first phase focusing on constructing the basic infrastructure and adding additional facilities and systems in the following stages. By implementing advanced technology systems, regular progress reviews and risk assessments, a strong contingency plan, and continuously monitoring and updating the project appraisal, we are confident that the project will be completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.
References
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