Q4 2019

MEAMARKETS / Q3 2019 5 NEWS The contract has been awarded to a new joint venture between National Aviation Services (NAS) and Airport Dimensions; The lounge will cater to all interna- tional airline passengers in addition to inde- pendent travellers who can access the lounge regardless of the class of their ticket or airline Abu Dhabi Airports has awarded the Mid- field Terminal’s lounge construction and management contract to a joint venture be- tween National Aviation Services (NAS) and Airport Dimensions, which combines NAS’ regional operational experience and Airport Dimensions’ expertise in managing passen- ger’s needs at international airports. Spanning over 3,500 square meters, the new lounge will allow customers to enjoy premium lounge services, in line with Abu Dhabi Airports’ renowned Arabian hospitality and delivering a seamless and comfortable passenger experience. The lounge will be located at the heart of the new Midfield Terminal, offering access to independent travellers, regardless of the airline they are traveling with or the class of their ticket. It is accessible to passengers who are departing or transiting through Abu Dhabi International Airport, forming a signifi- cant part of the airport’s world-class facilities. Commenting on the new contract, Bryan Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “Our partnership with After a month since the launch of Tatawwar: Building Tomorrow’s Minds, from HSBC and Potential. com, over 2000 students across the UAE, Egypt, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Algeria, have registered in the programme. Tatawwar: Building Tomorrow’s Minds is an interactive online and face-to-face programme that brings together students aged 15 to 18, schools, parents and the business community to innovate for a sustainable future by address- ing one of three United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: • Climate Action • Human Health and Well-being • Clean Water and Sanitation The programme offers a series of learning re- sources to support students as they develop their innovative ideas. The most promising will be invited to in-country workshops to be held in January across the region, to build their initial prototypes. A panel of judges will then select the top 20 to participate in the final round in Muscat, Oman in April 2020, where they will develop their pro- jects further with the aid of extensive coaching from industry leaders. The top three winners’ prototypes will be showcased at the HSBC sponsored UK Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020, and will also receive cash prizes of USD 5,000, USD 3,000 and USD 1,500 respectively. Also this week, two of the Tatawwar previous rollout winners have launched their crowdfund- ing campaigns on Zoomal.com to kick start their projects. Samah Mohamed from Egypt and Zoya Naeem from the UAE have come up with innovative solutions to address the water scarcity challenge. Students still have 20 days to register for the programme at www.tatawwar.com and sub- mit their innovative solutions to be eligible for attending the workshops. Schools, parents, NGOs and any other partners who would also like to participate in empowering the next gen- eration of social innovators are also invited to get in touch through the website. A Bright Start The lounge will cater to all international airline passengers in addition to independent travellers who can access the lounge regardless of the class of their ticket or airline. 2000 students from over 500 schools register in Tatawwar in the first month. NAS and Airport Dimensions represents an exciting development for the future passen- gers of the Midfield Terminal, as the new lounge will provide an unparalleled custom- er experience for those travelling through Abu Dhabi International Airport.” “We are pleased to be able to work with both NAS and Airport Dimensions on the construction and management of the new lounge. NAS’ operations within the Middle East mean that its regional knowledge will be invaluable in bringing this project to com- pletion, whilst Airport Dimensions’ extensive expertise in airport lounge design and man- agement will help to create a lounge that leaves passengers refreshed,” he added. “I offer my congratulations to both NAS and Airport Dimensions; and look forward to work- ing with both companies as we prepare the Midfield Terminal to receive passengers from across the globe,” concluded Thompson. Abu Dhabi Airports’ partnership with NAS and Airport Dimensions to develop and oper- ate the new lounge represents Airport Dimen- sions’ first project in the MENA region, adding to its global portfolio of 22 lounges. Airport Dimensions manages lounges at some of the world’s busiest airports, including London Heathrow and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta In- ternational Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. NAS currently operates 40 lounges across Africa, Middle East and Asia, including the VIP Ter- minal with meet and assist services at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.