Transport
From The Report: Abu Dhabi 2020
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Abu Dhabi has reached significant milestones across its air, land and sea transport, with more on the near horizon. The Midfield Terminal Building, which will facilitate higher visitor numbers, was scheduled to commence operations by the end of 2020, though this timeline was established before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Alongside the new terminal, the launch of two new low-budget airlines is set to make Abu Dhabi a more affordable travel destination. Within the emirate the green light has been given to key infrastructure projects that aim to improve the flow of traffic on road networks. In addition, the second phase of Etihad Rail’s network will start taking shape, increasing interconnectivity within the UAE for passengers and freight. Meanwhile, past investments in the development of Abu Dhabi’s seaports saw substantial increases in container traffic and cruise liner visits in 2019, with further growth anticipated in the long term. This chapter contains interviews with Falah Mohammad Al Ahbabi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport; Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, Acting CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports; and Tony Douglas, CEO, Etihad Airways.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Green light: Seaports and infrastructure investment support the sector as the national railway enters its second building phase
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Abu Dhabi has reached significant milestones across its air, land and sea transport, with more on the near horizon. The Midfield Terminal Building (MTB), which will facilitate higher visitor numbers, was scheduled to commence operations by the end of 2020, though this timeline was established before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Alongside the new terminal, the launch of two new low-budget airlines is set to make Abu Dhabi a more affordable travel destination. Within the emirate, the green…

Interview

Improving mobility: Falah Mohammad Al Ahbabi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), on encouraging private involvement and increasing sustainable travel options
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Interview:Falah Mohammad Al Ahbabi How can private involvement in the sector be boosted, and what area offers the greatest scope for public-private partnerships (PPPs)? FALAH MOHAMMAD AL AHBABI: We consider the private sector to be a key partner in our mission to deliver and manage sustainable development in Abu Dhabi. This is not only from a financial perspective, but because of the technical and operational expertise that private companies are able to offer. There are many ways we can…

Interview

Future-proofed: Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports, on developing air infrastructure in the emirate and abroad
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Interview:Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi To what extent will sustainable practices contribute to Abu Dhabi’s economic development? SHAREEF HASHIM AL HASHMI: The UAE’s theme for 2020 is “2020: Towards the next 50”. The vision behind this theme is to lay the foundations for the next 50 years of sustainable economic and social development. In this context, Abu Dhabi Airports has prepared a master plan with sustainability as a key aspect of future development, in addition to other existing…

Analysis

Grand opening: New terminal and low-cost carriers support expansion
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After almost a decade of construction work, the Midfield Terminal Building (MTB) at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) is in the final stages of development. The 742,000-sq-metre structure will significantly increase the airport’s capacity, serving as the gateway to Abu Dhabi for tens of millions of passengers each year. Designed by US architecture company KPF, the building’s illuminated interior will be visible from the motorway over 1500 metres away. Inside the new structure, passengers…

Interview

Skyward bound: Tony Douglas, CEO, Etihad Airways, on the aviation sector’s adoption of sustainable technologies and practices
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Interview:Tony Douglas How can the industry capitalise on opportunities stemming from an expected increase in passengers in key source markets and emerging economies? TONY DOUGLAS: The greatest growth in aviation will come from the Asia-Pacific region, which already delivers 37% of global passenger numbers and 45% of all traffic to and from the Middle East. China and India are – and will continue to be – key growth drivers. However, emerging markets such as Indonesia and Vietnam have…

Analysis

Collaborative efforts: The expansion of the emirate’s seaports has been strengthened by international partnerships
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Abu Dhabi’s maritime transport segment is making significant advances, with the volume and value of trade passing through its terminals expanding significantly in early 2019. While previous forecasts for near-term growth will likely be slowed by the drop in trade flow triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic – indeed, the World Health Organisation forecast in April 2020 that global merchandise trade for the year could be down 13-32% – seaports will continue to play an important geostrategic…

Overview

Ticket to ride: A combination of large-scale infrastructure investment and vehicle-sharing platforms is boosting urban mobility
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Around the globe the urban transportation sector is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by economic growth and a global demographic shift towards urbanisation. Politicians, urban planners and private sector actors are working together to find new solutions for reducing congestion and increasing the speed and efficiency of urban transport. However, unless proactive steps are taken to plan and invest in well-executed infrastructure, urban mobility can deteriorate. Road Vehicles Urban residents continue to rely heavily on privately owned vehicles. Worldwide, the number of cars in use is expected to exceed 2bn by 2040, according to investment…

Overview

Ticket to ride: A combination of large-scale infrastructure investment and vehicle-sharing platforms is boosting urban mobility
OBG
plus

Around the globe the urban transportation sector is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by economic growth and a global demographic shift towards urbanisation. Politicians, urban planners and private sector actors are working together to find new solutions for reducing congestion and increasing the speed and efficiency of urban transport. However, unless proactive steps are taken to plan and invest in well-executed infrastructure, urban mobility can deteriorate. Road Vehicles Urban residents continue to rely heavily on privately owned vehicles. Worldwide, the number of cars in use is expected to exceed 2bn by 2040, according to investment…