Abu Dhabi Airports breaks ground on cargo terminal at AUH

AUH gets a new cargo terminal: The UAE’s Abu Dhabi Airport has broken ground on the East Midfield cargo terminal (EMCT) at Zayed International Airport (AUH), according to a statement. No timeline or investment ticket for the project have been disclosed.

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The details: The 90k sqm facility will be able to handle up to 1.5 mn tonnes of cargo per year. The EMCT will integrate with the Abu Dhabi Airports Freezone (ADAFZ) — specifically at Al Falah district — offering a full range of services such as consolidation, warehousing, distribution, and re-export.

AD Airports completed the design phase of the East Midfield cargo terminal back in August, as part of its strategic partnerships and infrastructure enhancements. The firm handled some 254.3k tonnes of cargo in 1H 2024, with nearly 14 mn passengers in 1H 2024, up 33.5% y-o-y, with Zayed International Airport alone witnessing a 33.8% y-o-y rise in passenger traffic to over 13.7 mn passengers.

A boon for EAS as well: The boosted capabilities of the EMCT will enable Etihad Airport Services (EAS) to streamline its operations and enhance cargo handling efficiency, according to a press release. EMCT will be developed in line with Abu Dhabi regulations and Estidama principles — with an eye on a minimum Pearl rating.