Emad Faleh Al-Juluwi

DGCA’s ongoing expansion and modernization efforts at Kuwait International Airport include building Terminal 2 to accommodate 25 million passengers annually, constructing a third runway, and developing Cargo City as a hub.

What are the key projects involved in the ongoing expansion and modernization efforts at Kuwait International Airport?

Air transport is rapidly growing worldwide, and if countries do not follow trends or keep the infrastructure merging with them, you cannot expand. The number of passengers in Kuwait is growing by 11% annually, while cargo is growing by 3% annually. That is why Kuwait International Airport is building the T2 terminal, which can accommodate 25 million passengers annually, and a third runway. There will eventually be three runways, plus Cargo City. The latter aims to be a hub for the Middle East, East Asia, Europe, and the US. Growth and demand are high, which is why we plan to tender the Cargo City building and operation. There will also be a train station in Cargo City capable of moving cargo directly from the airport to the Mubarak and Shuwaikh ports; the rail line will pass through the entire GCC. Our target for the next five years is to accommodate approximately 650,000 take-offs and landings per year. We plan to tender package three for Kuwait International Airport and expect operations for Terminal-2 plus Cargo City to commence around 2027. A major cargo operator has already approached us expressing its interest in building and operating a facility in Cargo City. Another vision is an additional airport in the north of Kuwait to service the new city of Al-Mutla’a. Overall, the goal is to transform Kuwait into an economic station for investment and trading.

What agreements has DGCA signed in recent years?

We have 140 bilateral agreements with various countries. We recently signed a deal with the Republic of Portugal regarding air transportation for either cargo or passenger aviation. We are taking this bilateral agreement to the national carrier, which will assess its operational viability. Kuwait has almost 140 bilateral agreements with other countries. We are also looking for logistics partners, especially for cargo operations, since we are planning for both cargo business as well as passenger travel. We are always looking for open skies. Terminal income is one of the biggest investments for a country.

What steps has DGCA taken in Kuwait to modernize its systems?

We cannot reach our target until we renew all our infrastructure, which is why we are modernizing all our systems for what will be an automated airport. We have a new ground radar and have built a new tower to manage and direct air traffic. We have the third runway, which we have extended from 3.5km to 4.5km to accommodate heavy aircraft or cargo. We are continuously working to update our infrastructure to the most recent standards to make life easier.

How does DGCA in Kuwait ensure continuous training and professional development?

We are always looking for talented people and also offer training. We need human resources capable of keeping pace with technological advancement. DGCA provides aviation training, terminal operating training, and commercial side training, plus the terminal side. Aviation training is the most important because safety and security underpin all operations in the terminal. That is why every two years we have an ICAO audit. We received a positive score of almost 87% in the last one. In addition, there is currently new legislation for civil aviation awaiting approval at the Ministry of Council. Once in force, we can establish an airport operator company, a navigation company, or any other company dealing with terminals. DGCA is currently the operator and regulator, which is a conflict of interest. The new legislation will give us greater freedom to operate and invest.

How do you foresee the coming years in terms of new infrastructure, airport traffic, and routes?

Our goal is to achieve our vision, which is why we are working hard to accomplish it. The terminal’s income has been low, registering at around KWD80 million during COVID-19. Now, our goal is to reach KWD1,500 million within five years by handling 25 million passengers and the three runways in Cargo City.