Dh662m airport expansion for Sharjah

Sharjah's main airport confirms it is planning a major expansion expected to cost Dh662 million (US$180m) to retain its edge in an increasingly competitive market.

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SHARJAH // Sharjah's main airport has confirmed it is planning a major expansion expected to cost Dh662 million (US$180m) to retain its edge in an increasingly competitive market. Dr Ghanem al Hajri, director general of Sharjah International Airport, said the plans included renovating buildings, building a new terminal for arrivals and departures and increasing parking to accommodate 1,000 more cars.

The improvements would be completed by 2015, by which time the airport hopes to be handling eight million passengers a year. "We have already embarked on the construction work and, as many of you who travel through the airport must have noticed, great changes are under way at the site," he said. Dr Hajri was responding to a question by Obaid al Tunaiji, a member of the Sharjah Consultative Council, during the second session of its new term. Mr Tunaiji had asked what the authorities were doing to realise the emirate's goal of making the airport the most prosperous in the region after Dubai International Airport.

Mr Hajri replied that Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, Ruler of Sharjah, had approved a budget of Dh662m to fund the expansion. ykakande@thenational.ae