Kuwait has awarded a KD 1.3bn ($4.3bn) contract to Turkish firm Limak Construction – the lowest bidder – to construct the new passenger terminal at the Kuwait International Airport.
The 708,000 square metre new passenger terminal will have the capacity to handle 25 million passengers per year.
It will also be able to accommodate all aircraft types through 51 gates and stands with the ability to serve 21 A380 jumbo jets simultaneously.
The terminal is scheduled for completion in six years, a statement said. The contract also includes the provision of maintenance for an additional two years. [Source]
Even though I heard there was a bit on controversy since the project was awarded to a firm previously disqualified, at least we’re finally going to get a new airport!
57 replies on “New Airport Will Be Completed Within 6 Years”
YAY!!!!! Finally!!!!!!!!!
‘Lowest bidder and previously disqualified’ that’s something to look forward to! Once it’s completed I wonder how long it will take before we see cracks in the wall? I just hope they have a continuous supply of tp in the bathrooms 🙂
Doesn’t 6 years sound like a bit of a long time?!
Think about how many years it took to build the Avenues, from phase 1 to phase 3. It took quite a bit of time.
This is a full airport, so it will also take time.
“Lowest bidder”
Is cheaper always better? I’m really hoping there was a through review and cost was not the only deciding factor. Unless austerity mode has kicked in.
No cheaper isn’t always better but it’s not what you think in this case.
Here is a simple example of how it works. You want an iPhone 6s, Black with 64GB of space. You get back 3 offers, one is for KD100, one is for KD90 and one is disqualified because they offered white instead of black. So from the two quotes left that offered you exactly what you wanted, you go for the KD90 since they’re the same item just one is cheaper.
So with these bids its kinda similar. The architectural firm puts all their requirements, companies offer their prices and they go with the cheapest because as long as they follow the requirements outlined then all firms are basically offering the exact same product.
Cheapness might come at the expense of underpaid slave-like labor with hellish work conditions and accommodations.
Deal with slave labor at your home…..do you have a khadama, houseboy or driver?
If yes do you allow them to keep their passports?
Do they work 8 hours a day with two days a week off?
If you answer yes to all the above then you have the right to criticize slave labor
I actually have the right to unconditionally critcize anything I want.
Offcourse you do…but you’ll still look like a hypocrite while doing it
Do you let your khadama or houseboy browse the internet and write absurd comments?
If yes, then you have the right to write absurd comments.
I don’t employ slave labor i actually do my own laundry. You should try it sometime.
I don’t do laundry, I actually employ slave labor. You should try it sometime.
“Alex I’ll take Things I can only say in a Kuwaiti based forum for 20 please”
It’s actually 8 hours a day with 1 day a week off by law 😛 But yeah point taken
The lowest bidder meeting requirements.
I think this airport will be completed by the time Airbus A380s will become redundant, so no use of those 21 specialized gates
Valid point!
Any one knows what happened to the new version of A380? Are they still building it or are they officially out of production?
A380 NEO*
yes because the 747’s are totally redundant now….
Planes can continue flying for like, 30 years in some cases.
Just in time for the 2022 Qatar world cup
6 years………yeah right! More like 12 years knowing how quickly projects move here in Kuwait.
I have lived here for 5 years and they are still not done with the roadworks that start at Sheraton roundabout towards City Centre in Shuwaikh. The size of that project would have been completed in 1 year in the U.A.E. Bloody hell, they can’t even re-surface the roads, re-paint the lanes and install the reflective “thingies” in 5 years either………mind boggling considering that the country is in the top 5 wealthiest in the world!
+1000
I think the difference being is that the highways they’re building through Shuwaikh are a logistical nightmare, while Kuwait has a pretty good record of constructing buildings at a decent space. Just look at the museum that’s being built along the Gulf Road as an example.
Fair enough. But how much planning and effort it takes to maintain the existing ones?
We need better planning. And prompt execution without excessive interventions.
The difference is that the project on Gulf Road is under Al-Diwan Al-Amiri, resulting in a development pace that cannot be compared to that of government projects.
Turns out when you bypass 99% of government processes things finish faster…
To be fair, it is a whole different challenge constructing a road while still keeping the roads around the project running. I think it is a pretty big deal to be able to build a flyover over the Gazali without shutting the road.
i dont think the UAE have a bigger road project than that….its a huge bridge 25-30km over the sea and 50km bridge straight from sheraton roundabout going towards jahra 3 bridges in total…..mad project i think mark posted about it before
I will miss old q8 airport. The pink terminal. I got old pictures of q8 airport before and after invasion….
I hope new terminal will bring some sense to saff on how to treat visitors
Send me the photos before the invasion
Nah.
Kuwait Airways supporting Terminal will be ready in less than 2 years.
Why on earth does Kuwait airport need the capacity to handle 21 A380s simultaneously?
Even factoring in above average passenger growth to Kuwait and Kuwait Airways turning itself into a major global carrier, it cannot possibly need this.
https://248am.com/mark/kuwait/kuwait-the-worlds-food-capital-by-2030/
Interesting video; forward looking and knowledgeable talking heads. I have certainly eaten in good, independent restaurants in Kuwait – Solo Pizza and Caribbean Hut spring to mind.
But world capital!? I apologise for the Western-centric viewpoint but that’ll never happen unless there is a sea change in service levels and a change in attitude regarding the ‘B’ in F&B. And quite frankly I don’t see either happening.
It said food capital, nothing about beverages.
Kuwait is being sponsored by Pepsi or Coke, just waiting to finalize the tender documents.
Come on Mark that can’t be the reason… I suspect Kuwait Airways might have its eyes on some A380 planes in the near future
obviously i was being sarcastic 😉
Lool
If economic growth and expansion is not a reason enough, I guess it must be that so expats stop complaining about long lines.
Is the net still absolutely horrible for anyone else?
stop the pointless criticism, unless u have made a thorough study about the airport and the current situation of the country + if other countries in the region like Qatar and the UAE listened to the criticism of the people like us they wouldn’t have reached the level they’re at now. i politely ask people to STFU!!!
+1
Along with a new airport, we also need a change of attitude when it comes to complaining :/
Which airports have Limak previously constructed?
Their homeland Turkey, and Egypt. That’s about it.
We’re off to a great start.
In Cairo they only built the Egypt Air terminal and it’s actually a decent terminal. The other terminals at Cairo Airport are depressing
+1
I believe they’re the ones the constructed Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport, which is a good airport.
the head of lemak actually said it will be probably be finished ahead of schedule (40 months only !) if things goes along without any goverment intervention
Can anyone point me to high-res images of how it’ll look like when completed? Or would-be satellite imagery? Just want to know where exactly at the current airport is this new terminal coming up.
Ok, just got some shots:
https://gulfbusiness.com/kuwait-awards-4-3bn-contract-new-airport-terminal/
WOW! The current terminal can barely be seen when compared to the 2 giant new terminals.
The project is in two phases, the first phase with a capacity for 13 million passengers, and the second phase (an expansion) to upgrade the capacity to 25 million passengers.
This effectively means, there will be construction going on even when the new airport is operational (assuming the government goes with the expansion option simultaneously).
Regarding the A380 – the new version (requested by Emirates – the largest operator of the aircraft) has been delayed till after 2022.
The economies mean that currently the demand is for smaller, longer range aircraft (787 / 777X / A350) than the A380:
“Last year, there were zero orders placed by commercial airlines for new jumbo 747 aircraft from rival Boeing Co or Airbus A380s, reflecting a fundamental shift in the airline industry toward smaller, twin-engine planes.”
—
@Kuwait:
The project is to expand the current airport, so its being developed in the exact same location.
You can find images at https://gckuwait.com/kuwait-international-airport-passenger-terminal/itemid-152#image-gallery (Gulf Consult Kuwait) who are the local consultants for the project; and https://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/kuwait-international-airport/ (Foster+Partners who are the architects for the terminal).
Let’s hope it’s not the same company that built the Jaber Al-Ahmed Stadium.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… take a wild guess who is Limak’s local partner in Kuwait?
LOL damn…