Top 10 Middle East cargo hubs

Making it on to the top 10 list of the Middle East’s biggest cargo hubs in 2008 is no mean feat.

A number of highly recognised and well-established facilities did not find themselves on the list this year for various reasons, but the data provided by GACA and Airports Council International showed some pretty close calls, particularly towards the bottom end of the table.

An honourable mention goes to Fujairah International Airport, which saw tonnage increase by 17.2% in the 12-month period up to December 2008 – the region’s best improvement.

There is much to suggest that there will be some big changes in 2009. 

10. Beirut International Airport

Edging out Dammam’s giant King Fahd International Airport is Beirut’s biggest facility, which saw a 7.4% increase in throughput in 2008.

 

9. Queen Alia International Airport

 The developments at Queen Alia International Airport – Jordan’s biggest – include the implementation of IT platform Cargospot and Royal Jordanian’s completion of the second phase of its cargo terminal upgrade.

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8. Kuwait International Airport

Despite falling freight figures in the first couple of months of 2009, Kuwait International Airport experienced a robust 2008, with tonnage increasing by 2.3% in a tough operating environment.

7. King Abdulaziz International Airport - Jeddah

Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport is in the process of being developed into a world-beating new facility, as designed by ADPI.

The company is now developing a two million square metre area at the site, including a 30-million-capacity passenger terminal and an intermodal hub that will include a connection to the high-speed railway network.

6. King Khalid International Airport - Riyadh

At 225 square kilometres, King Khalid is one of the biggest airports in the world. A new terminus for the North-South Railway project will soon be constructed near the facility, which is set to add to its multi-modal logistics offerings.