THE Abu Dhabi Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has announced the inauguration of construction work on the new Airport Hotel, set to be completed in 2007.
Financed by the DCA, the construction of the hotel and its facilities is estimated at Dh100 million. The hotel will be located less than two kilometres from the Abu Dhabi International Airport and will feature 285 suites and single and double rooms.
“The DCA is responding to the urgent need for an airport hotel to service both travellers and airport personnel,” said Ahmed Al Hosani, assistant undersecretary, DCA. “A new hotel at the airport will complement the airport’s existing services and will allow the department to continue contributing to the development of the essential facilities offered by Abu Dhabi International Airport.”
Al Hosani also commented on the hotel’s strategic location which is within walking distance of the airport and will permit future expansion of the hotel, or any of its facilities, should the need arise. The hotel will be built on an elevated platform 15m above ground level and will house three restaurants; a spacious ballroom that can be utilised for conferences or events; a swimming pool overlooking the hotel’s gardens, and five tennis courts. It is minutes away from the Al Ghazal Golf Club.
Abu Dhabi International Airport saw movement of 5.5 million passengers through the facility in 2005 compared to 5.2 million last year. Expansion was the highlight at the airport in 2005 with the opening of two new terminals, which will be an interim solution to the growing number of passengers moving through this facility, until the new airport is completed in 2010.