ABU DHABI AIRPORT

 New Terminal to double the capacity of the airport 

The Midfield Terminal Complex at Abu Dhabi International Airport in United Arab Emirates designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) is one of the most interestingly shaped terminal buildings in the world. The airport is serving up to 80 million passengers per year, and the new terminal complex covers 735,000 m2 of space. The undulating shape of this piece of art can be seen as far as 1500 metres away. The highest point of the building is in 50 metres, and the maximum inclination is 30 degrees where the Rostek Roslift 35 trolleys climb up and down along the aluminium tracks. Open space inside the terminal hall offers a pleasant atmosphere for the passengers, and large windows let the daylight illuminate in beautifully.

Graceful long‐span arches support a soaring terminal roof. The challenge was to fit a trolley in a very narrow space where the monorail track follows the shape of the roof. The friction-based Roslift 35 trolley was developed for this project and it was a perfect fit for the inclined tracks. The custom made monorail system comprises an aluminium track complete with totally 54 climbing trolleys, and 27 small BMU cradles allowing unobstructed and efficient access to maintain the terminal facades and skylights.

  • Originally planned to open in December 2017, postponed to open in 2019. Abu Dhabi Airport is one of the biggest Rostek projects so far.
  • Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  • Year of completion: 2019 (Planned)
  • Over 8.5 kilometers of climbing monorail track and 27 self powered platforms by Rostek
  • The climbing monorails follow the wave-shaped facades around the whole terminal. Similar shapes can be found in different airports around the world and a climbing monorail is usually the least visible solution for similar facade solutions.

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