6. MEGA EVENTS
State of Energy Report
Connectivity Means Efficiency
By Paul Zissermann
Harnessing geographic location and state of the art infrastructure; a logistics and transportation system to reduce the environmental footprint of mega-events.
Three of the greatest strengths of Dubai’s bid to host the Dubai Expo 2020 are its geographical location, its state-of-the-art airport, and the connectivity offered by the airlines serving Dubai; including Emirates, now the largest international airline in the world. Together, these three factors give Dubai’s bid an enviable advantage, allowing the anticipated 25 million visitors to the 2020 Expo to travel to and from the event more quickly and efficiently. In turn, easier and direct access to the venue translates into better environmental performance compared to locations that do not have the same degree of connectivity.
A geographical hub Many would argue that the city’s rapid development has been a result of its location at the crossroads of historic trade routes between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Far East. This advantage was clearly realised by Dubai’s leaders in the early days of its development, when His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum decided to construct the Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone in the early seventies. The Jebel Ali Port is now the largest man-made harbour in the world and the largest port between Rotterdam and Singapore. It is also the largest and busiest regional port in the Arabian Gulf. Jebel Ali is arguably the main economic engine of Dubai, responsible for over half of Dubai’s export movements and contributing some 25% to Dubai’s GDP.
Breaking records The government’s support and investment in the aviation sector has followed the same pattern with spectacular success. Since welcoming its first flight in 1960, Dubai International Airport is now the second busiest in the world in terms of international passenger traffic, according to a 2013 report from the Airports Council International. It is now due to surpass
London’s Heathrow Airport in the top position by 2015, if not earlier. In 2012, Dubai Airport handled 57.7 million passengers, more than double the 24.8 million handled in 2005. Alongside the Dubai government’s investment in Emirates Airline, the rise of Dubai as an aviation transport hub cannot be ignored. Emirates itself was only established in 1985 with two leased aircraft, and is now the largest international airline in the world (in terms of international passenger-kilometres flown). Despite significant events impacting the global industry, Dubai has retained exceptional growth in the aviation sector
45
2010 - 47.2m passengers 2000 - 12.3m passengers 1990 - 5.0m passengers 1980 - 2.8m passengers 1970 - 0.5m passengers 1961 - 0.04m passengers
40 Annual Passengers (millions)
Dubai International Airport is now the second busiest in the world in terms of international passenger traffic
“
“
35
2009 FLYDUBAI LAUNCH 2008 Terminal 3 opens First Emirates A380
30 1990 1st Gulf War 1983 Emirates Launch
25 20 15
2001 Sept 11th
1998 Terminal 2 Opens
1984 2nd Rnuway Opens
10 1960 Dubai International Opens
5
2000 Concourse 1 opens
0 1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
Year
Dubai Airports, 2011: ‘Connecting the World Today and Tomorrow - Strategic Plan 2020’