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Is it really going to get completed?

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/545247-d ... l-mid-2010

Dubai's new airport has been delayed for a year, opening in mid-2010 rather than the middle of this year, according to a top Dubai Airports executive.

The hold up for Al Maktoum International has been caused by the lack of a license from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), which is required to start operations, according to UAE daily Emirates Business.

Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports said: "We were hoping to receive our license from GCAA sometime this year. But it has got delayed and we do not see it happening now until mid-2010.”

The 2009 opening had been an “aspiration” and the delay had nothing do with the ongoing global financial crisis, Griffiths added.

“We still have to commission all equipment needed, hire the right staff, ready all the facilities and so on. We do not see it all being completed this year. So, we are aiming for a mid-2010 opening," Griffiths said.

The GCAA confirmed that no date had been agreed on for the airport’s opening.

“Both parties are working hand in hand in steering a comprehensive development programme to ensure the prime project objectives of creating a premier class international airport are achieved," said GCAA's director of flight safety and security, Aws Al Khanjari.

To date only the runway and the lightning have been completed at the 140 sq km airport site being built in Jebel Ali's $33 billion Dubai World Central development.

Work still needed to be finished on the air traffic control tower and access roads to the airport, Griffiths said.

“These would not possibly be complete by the end of this year,” he added.

Interesting. thank you

my father in law's friend is a main steel supplier to this project. their order was halted back in october. its amazing how late the news comes out ....but it does get around fast.