Dubai likely to be world cargo transportation hub

Being an independent, fully operational second airport in Dubai, it will go a long way in integrating the supply chain economics, and is one of the landmark opportunities for Dubai, said Prof. Bala Chandran, who spoke to Khaleej Times recently.

Prof. Balachandran, the JL Kellogg Distinguished Prof. of Accounting and Information Management at Northwestern University, Illinois, said that the entire movement of cargo worldwide could be routed through Dubai, given its strategic position on the Gulf Coast.

Dubai may well be on its way to become another Singapore or Hong Kong, with its seaports handling huge amounts of cargo transiting to various locations, he said.

He suggested attracting companies such as FedEx, offering highest efficiency and affordable costs in supply chain dynamics, making Dubai the world centroid of Air Cargo transportation. Particularly, given the present economic crisis, this may be necessary to give the much needed boost to the economy.

The $8.1bn Al Maktoum International Airport, on completion, will be one of the world’s biggest passenger and cargo hub. It is the main component of Dubai World Central, the first truly integrated logistics platform in the world, with several transport modes, logistics and value added services.

The airport already began its cargo operations in June, although its passenger terminal is likely to begin operations only in next March. The new airport will be ten times larger than Dubai International Airport and Dubai Cargo Village combined.

Posted on 31/8/2010

Recent Articles