Home / Airports / Dubai International Airport

Dubai International Airports

Dubai, UAE

Concourse A – the world’s first and largest purpose-built A380 facility’.

Overview

Dubai International Airports served 86.4 million customers in 2019, connecting more than 240 destinations across six continents on more than 100 airlines. DXB is a dynamic airport that truly connects the world.

The airport’s world-class facilities include the $1.2 billion Concourse D, a state of the art facility serving all international airlines that operate into Terminal 1, Concourse A – the world’s first and largest purpose-built A380 facility that is one of the three Concourses used exclusively by Emirates airline, as well as Terminal 2.

Insights

Tear-Drop Windows:

The structure of the `teardrop’ windows consists of two orthogonally arranged tension rod strings, which are curved in opposite directions. They are connected to an edge beam and horizontal compression members to create a static system. Thus no reaction forces caused by pre-tensioning have to be carried by the primary construction.

The unique 3D shapes of the teardrop windows required the use of parametric software to assist in generating the design packages. This approach allowed for each glass unit to have different shapes and frit pattern layouts as they required different glass hole fixing points to match the structural model of stainless steel spiders and secondary support of the façade. The fabrication drawings and cutting list were linked directly to CNC and deco print machines to achieve smooth and error-free production.

A combination of pinned and restraint-free supports causes low constraint forces within the façade system. Consequently, the structure is widely decoupled from influences and especially deflections caused by the primary structure. The pre-tensioning level of the façade system was controlled by detailed geometrical specifications during the fabrication stage as well as the erection phase. Hence the measurement of pre-tension forces can be reduced to random spot checks. Dead loads of glass units, wind and maintenance loads on the glass units are taken by spider arms connected to horizontal steel beams  (AESS 4) and stainless steel cables transferring the loads into the primary steel structure.

Gable End:

The gable ends are inclined, ellipsoid shaped, point-fixed cable façades with a height of 25 m at the centre and a length of 90m at the base.

The gable ends are glass walls sustained thru point-supported spiders and a pre-stressed tension rod system. The stability of the system is heavily dependent on the rigidness of the spider against rotation. To mitigate the stress at the glass, the point support at the spider’s arm’s end is designed to accommodate small rotations/hinge behaviour. Pre-stressed forces in the tension rods are considered in every load case. From the self-weight of the wall, wind action on the surface area, and the movement of the support structure. This ensures that the stability of the system is being maintained and prevents any displacement of the point supports.

Key Data

Location

Dubai, UAE

Project Type

Airports, Speciality

Client / Developer

Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects

Architect/Consultant

  • Dar Al Handasah Shair & Partner / ADPI JV (Concourses A, B, D, Terminal 2, Maktoum International Airport Passenger Terminal and Car Park)
  • Bechtel (Concourse C)

Main Contractor

  • Al Abbar Aluminium Co (Concourses A, B, C – External Envelopes)
  • Al Habtoor – Murray & Roberts JV (Concourse C)
  • Alec (Concourse D, Internal Glazing Packages of Concourses A&B, Car Parking and Maktoum International Airport Passenger Terminal)
  • Arabtec Construction LLC (Terminal 2)

Façade Area

  • Concourse A: 22,000 sqm
  • Concourse B: 35,000 sqm
  • Maktoum International Airport Passenger Terminal: 28,735 sqm

Roofing Area

  • Concourse A: 7,000 sqm
  • Concourse B: 70,000 sqm
  • Concourse C: 60,000 sqm
  • Concourse D: 50,000 sqm

Scope of Work

Concourse A | Design, supply, manufacture and installation of roofing, façade, skylights and glazed screens:
  • Standing Seam Roofing / 6mm Aluminium Composite Cladding     7,000 sqm
  • Tension Wall Glazing System 22,000 sqm
  • Stick System   6,400 sqm
  • Semi-Unitised / Stick System   2,700 sqm
Concourse B | Design, supply, manufacture and installation of roofing, façade, skylights and glazed screens:
  • Standing Seam Roofing / 6mm Aluminium Composite Cladding   70,000 sqm
  • Tension Wall Glazing System 35,000 sqm
  • Stick System   5,000 sqm
  • Semi-Unitised / Stick System 15,000 sqm
Concourse B & Car Park | Design, supply, manufacture and installation of internal ID works:
  • P.F. Glazing Internal SST Cladding  41,000 sqm
Concourse B DOM | Design, supply, manufacture and installation of stainless steel, composite, aluminium & aluminium composite cladding. Design, supply, manufacture and installation of internal glazing, glazed screens, guardrails, wall features and steel support.
Concourse C | Design, supply, manufacture and installation of roofing and glazed screens:
  • Standing Seam Roofing / 6mm Aluminium Composite Cladding   60,000 sqm
  • Semi-Unitised / Stick System 10,000 sqm
Concourse D | Design, supply, manufacture and installation of roofing:
  • Standing Seam Roofing / 6mm Aluminium Composite Cladding   50,000 sqm
Terminal 2 | Design, supply, manufacture and installation of stick curtain walling system.
Maktoum International Airport Passenger Terminal | Design, supply, manufacture and installation of stick curtain walling:
  • Stick System Curtain Walling 28,735 sqm

Date of Award

Concourse A - 2008
Concourse B - 2004
Concourse B & Car Park - 2005
Concourse B DOM - 2010
Concourse C - 1997
Concourse D - 2012
Terminal 2 - 2012
Maktoum International Airport Passenger Terminal - 2016

Date of Completion

Concourse A - 2012
Concourse B - 2007
Concourse B & Car Park - 2008
Concourse B DOM - 2012
Concourse C - 2000 Concourse D - 2015
Terminal 2 - 2015
Maktoum International Airport Passenger Terminal - 2019