Sorry, Texas... Everything's Bigger In Dubai

Construction on the Middle East's highest air traffic control tower has begun at Dubai World Central, an "urban aviation community" now taking shape at Jebel Ali in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dubai-German joint-venture company Arabtec/Max Bogl is constructing the nearly 300-foot-high control tower, and a 64,500-square-foot technical block housing offices, operations, technical rooms, flight simulator... and a "meteor observation cabin," according to a release to ANN.

"This will be a unique structure, the highest in the Middle East and an iconic landmark for the region's aviation industry," said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Aviation Corporation - Dubai World Central.

"Construction of the tower has started on site and once completed will be a magnificent sight. This will be one of the most technologically advanced units in the world, placing the Middle East in the forefront of global avionics development."

The tower is located near the southeast end of Dubai World Central International Airport (JXB), close to the passenger terminal building also being constructed by the joint-venture.

When completed, JXB will be the world's largest airport -- with six parallel 15,000-foot runways, up to 16 cargo terminals, two supersized passenger terminals and six concourses, with the ability to handle 120 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo annually.

"The tower, along with the passenger terminal which is currently being built to cater to seven million passengers, will be operational by end-2008 and will be regulated by a common air traffic service company under the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA)," said Sheikh Ahmed.

FMI: www.dwtc.com/