Middle East's First Airport City in Industry Spotlight

Dubai-based airline managers, representing over a dozen passenger and cargo carriers, have been given a detailed brief on Dubai Festival City - the Middle East’s first ‘airport city’ situated just two kilometres from the emirate’s award winning international airport.

At a presentation on Dubai Festival City, the region’s largest mixed-use real estate development, the managers heard how the ‘city-within-a-city’ was working with the Department of Civil Aviation and Government of Dubai on a number of initiatives to position the waterfront development as a major tourist destination.

“We are looking to become a gateway to the airport – an entertainment and shopping destination for the many passengers transiting Dubai International as well as a possible corporate office and residential base for the expanding number of airlines using the airport,” explained Phil McArthur, Director Leasing and Marketing, Dubai Festival City.

The scale, scope and diversity of Dubai Festival City took some of the airline managers by surprise.

“Dubai Festival City will offer something for everyone,” said Geoff Walsh, Country Operations Manager, DHL Express. “With so many other projects being built in Bur Dubai, this development can really contribute to the growth of Deira, and to Dubai as a whole.”

Ruchi Pabiya, Corporate Travel Consultant, KLM, agreed that Dubai Festival City is a hugely impressive and ambitious project.

“Dubai Festival City is a grand vision and with the involvement of the Al- Futtaim group, I have no doubt that this vision will be realized,” she said.

The Dubai Festival City is being developed on 1,600 acres on the banks of Dubai’s historic Creek. Comprising 15 distinct development zones, Dubai Festival City is a property development by the Al-Futtaim Group.

The privately-funded property will comprise a unique mix of entertainment, dining, shopping, edutainment, sport and leisure facilities, automotive dealerships, hotels, a marina, residential and office components.

For sporting enthusiasts, an 18-hole championship golf course, designed by world-renowned golf course designer Robert Trent Jones II LLC, and other world-class sporting facilities are also being incorporated into the overall development.