Within a comprehensive development plan at a cost of AED 1.9 billion

Tender closed for Sharjah Airport development to increase capacity to 25 million passengers annually

  • Last year, Sharjah Airport attracted 6 new airlines with regular weekly flights. Archival

  • Ali Al Midfa: "(The airport) targets a growth of 5% for the total number of passengers during 2023, to reach 14 million passengers."

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Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA) revealed that it has closed a tender to develop the airport aimed at raising its capacity to 25 million passengers annually, noting that it is currently studying all offers submitted from the technical and financial aspects, provided that a contract will be signed to start the project within two months from now.

The authority told Emirates Today that the tender is part of a comprehensive development plan at Sharjah International Airport, at a cost of one billion and 900 million dirhams, pointing out that the development program will continue for three years.

In detail, the Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, Ali Salem Al Midfa, said that «the authority received all offers for a tender for the development of Sharjah International Airport during the past month after its closure, and currently all offers are being studied by Parsons International, in terms of technical and financial», noting that a report will be submitted to the authority in this regard within weeks, provided that the contract to start the project is signed with the contractor within two months.

Al-Midfa added, to «Emirates Today», that «this tender is part of a comprehensive development plan at Sharjah International Airport at a cost of one billion and 900 million dirhams», pointing out that «the development program will continue for three years, and will contribute to raising the capacity at Sharjah International Airport to 20 million passengers annually, and may rise to 25 million with the implementation of some additions, and the adoption of modern technological systems in the available facilities».

He stated that «the capacity of Sharjah International Airport currently reaches eight million passengers, but the airport handles about 13 million passengers, which is about five million additional passengers within the current facilities», pointing out that «this additional capacity was made possible thanks to the efforts and development of some other facilities, which included increasing the number of departure halls, and expansion that finally included the eastern region of the airport, with the addition of four new gates, which helped us in the process of additional operation».

He explained that «currently work is underway to prepare about 12 new parking for aircraft, to enter service next June», pointing out that Sharjah International Airport keeps pace with the current and expected growth in the number of passengers within the plans set for that.

He pointed out that Sharjah International Airport recorded a growth in the number of passengers, during January, compared to the same month of 2022, pointing out that the airport aims to grow by more than 5% for the total number of passengers during the current year as a whole, to reach about 14 million passengers, after the airport recorded about 13 million passengers last year, compared to seven million passengers last year, with a growth rate of about 85%.

"Over the past year, the airport has attracted six new airlines for passengers with regular weekly flights, with the addition of new destinations for airlines operating at the airport," he added.

He pointed out that the airport is also looking to serve more markets in Europe and East Asia, indicating that the development operations at Sharjah International Airport also include air cargo services, as the total cargo handling through Sharjah Airport during 2022 increased to 170,21 tons, a growth of 2.140%, compared to 2021,<> tons during <>.