Economy
on the Web
http://www.kippreport
.com
http://www.uaeinteract
.com
http://www.abudhabi.ae
http://www.emirates
economist
.blogspot.comWorld’s Largest Airport
Dubai never shies away from superlatives, which is why it should be no
surprise that it is to have the world’s biggest airport. Upon completion,
Al-Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali will boost the emirate’s
annual passenger potential to an estimated 160 million by 2035 and
be capable of handling over 12 million tonnes of cargo annually. It is
expected to cost around $34 billion and be 10 times the size of Dubai In-
ternational Airport and Dubai Cargo Village combined. Freight opera-
tions started in June 2010 and passenger flights are expected to begin
in 2013. Passenger numbers jumped by 11% in 2011 and the contribution
to Dubai’s GDP has been significant.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are also building mega-
hubs to support their fast-growing national airlines, Qatar Airways
and Etihad, respectively. Abu Dhabi’s Terminal 3 opened in 2009 to
accommodate the approximate 12 million annual passengers, with an
additional terminal scheduled to open in 2016.f rEE ZonES
The Jebel Ali Free Zone, established in 1985, is home to 5500 com-
panies from 120 countries and has contributed hugely to Dubai’s
economic diversification. Companies are enticed here by the promise
of full foreign ownership, full repatriation of capital and profits, no
corporate tax for 15 years, no currency restrictions, and no personal
income tax. Other industry-specific free zones, such as Dubai Internet
City and Dubai Media City, have added a high-tech information and
communication stratum to the city’s economy. IT firms based here in-
clude Google, HP, Dell and Oracle. Reuters, CNN, CNBC, MBC, Sony,
Showtime and Bertelsmann are among the media companies that have
set up shop in town.Poli
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Free Zone
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