The ‘world’s most beautiful’ airport that cost a huge £3.7bn to build | World | News
Dubbed as the “world’s beautiful airport” by the luxurious airline Etihad Airways’, Zayed International Airport is an architectural marvel. Costing an eyewatering $4.8billion (£3.7billion) to design and construct, it now takes the title of the second busiest airport in the United Arab Emirates, after the popular Dubai International.
Designed by US architects Kohn Pederson Fox, the natural surrounding landscapes of the country inspired the airport’s construction. The terminal’s dramatic undulating roof reflects the vast, picturesque sand dunes. The 50-metre-high departure hall is painted with an array of lights, making for an illuminated masterpiece at night.
Architectural elements such as the Sana Al Nour, a huge environmental art installation weighing approximately 100,000 kg and featuring 1,632 curved glass panels, can be spotted while walking around.
The vast scale of the airport made no impact to its beauty, with Terminal A comprising 65 gates that can accommodate up to 59 aircraft, mainly those of Etihad. The layout of the building allows for a complete luxurious experience too, with each gate being walkable within seven minutes to its heart.
The airport is equipped with the most up to date technology, featuring the latest biometrics facial-recognition and CT scanners. This allows for electronic devices to remain in a passenger’s carry-on, eliminating any extra hassle.
When you get through all of the checks, more than 160 high-end, luxury designer stores await to pass the time until your flight. Food and beverage outlets spread across the 35,000 square metres of space too, offering a delicious variety of cuisines.
The facility, named after the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founder and former President of the United Arab Emirates, soft-opened in 2023 – it was initially named Abu Dhabi International Airport.
In its first year of opening, the airport welcomed 22.5 million passengers. The high volume of people continued to grow into 2024, with a record-breaking 13,983,885 passengers between 1 January and 30 June 2024 – a 33.5% increase compared to the same period last year.
