GCC States Economy & Development

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Akhi, all these cities and mega projects..with all these Islamic Civilization learning center, finance Island blah blah...all these projects sound very good and dandy...but any idea when all these project will be completed? By what year?

Please tell

Totally, in 2030 : ‘Economic Vision 2030’.

At the same time as other members of the GCC (Mainly like UAE and Qatar. The other two major forces).

Pooling power ‘in all areas’. ^^


Abu Dhabi 2030

Qatar
Al Rail - Doha Metro and High-Speed Railway station visual

 

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KSA - KAIA (King Abdulaziz International Airport)

The new airport KAIA

By MD HUMAIDAN

Published: Jan 12, 2011 00:35 Updated: Jan 12, 2011 01:00

JEDDAH: Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, laid the foundation stone for the new King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) project on Tuesday and said the project is a gift from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to Saudis and foreign pilgrims.

Prince Sultan watched a presentation on the project that will increase the airport’s capacity from 17 million to 30 million passengers. The new airport is designed in the form of two crescents to reflect its position as the main gateway to the two holy mosques.

Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, assistant minister of defense and aviation, said the new airport would have advanced facilities. “The amount allocated for the project is not huge compared to the facilities it would have and similar airports in other parts of the world,” he told reporters.

He said the first phase of the project, which includes construction of a new terminal with 94 aircraft bays, 46 departure gates, five passenger lounges, 96 airway bridges and a 56-room hotel for transit passengers, would be completed in 36 months.

He emphasized the General Authority of Civil Aviation’s new strategy to add economic value to its airports by operating them on a commercial basis and offering a lot of investment projects to the private sector. “The KAIA will be made a central hub in the region to boost air traffic,” he pointed out.

Abdullah Rehaimi, president of GACA, said the new airport project, estimated to cost more than SR27 billion (US$ 7 Billion) in the first phase, would be financed by KAIA’s present and future revenues.

Prince Sultan signed two contracts worth SR27.1 billion (US$ 7 Billion) with Saudi Binladin Group last November to carry out the KAIA expansion project.

“The project aims at making the KAIA a high-tech airport that can receive huge aircraft and be a hub to link the East and the West providing numerous investment opportunities and jobs for Saudis,” said Rehaimi.

As part of the first contract, worth SR15.12 billion (US$ 4 Billion), a 670,000-square-meter terminal with 94 aircraft bays will be constructed to replace the present terminals for Saudia and foreign airlines.

The second contract — worth SR11.97 billion (US$ 3 Billion) — covers construction of the world’s tallest air-traffic control tower at 133 meters, parking lots to accommodate 8,200 vehicles, three power generation and cooling centers, data administration centers, infrastructure and road networks.


ARAB NEWS

In link with KSA “Haramain High Speed Railway between Mecca and Medina”

Saudi Binladin Group

In 2002, the company had 35,000 employees worldwide and was worth $ 5 billion

 

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And link also with...

King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh (built by Saudi Binladin Group)

V5 156 - YouTube


April 2013






Diagram of “Airport KAIA”




First phase





April 2013 progress update
Terminal and Tower

 

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KSA “Haramain High Speed Railway between Mecca and Medina”

Concept

Jeddah Haramain Station










KAEC (King Abdullah Economic City) Station

 

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Makkah Station




Madinah Station







Madinah Haramain Station
April, 2013

 

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KAEC Haramain Station
March, 2013

 

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KSA - King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh

April, 2013

 

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GCC future “Central Bank” (King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh)




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_bank

 

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UAE

Fly me to the moon, Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars…

Ok! Let's go! ^^

Aabar buys stake in Virgin Galactic

By Charles Black 28 July 2009

(Sen) - Abu Dhabi's Aabar Investments and Virgin Group today announced that they have agreed to enter a strategic partnership, which will see Aabar take an equity stake in the world’s first commercial spaceline - Virgin Galactic. To date Virgin Galactic has been wholly owned and funded by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group.

The deal, signed today at the EAA AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin attended by Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group, and Mohamed Badawy Al-Husseiny, CEO of Aabar. The signing ceremony is taking place alongside Virgin Galactic’s new carrier space launch vehicle, Mothership VMS Eve, who will be making her debut public appearance with a flight demonstration at the show. Excitingly, Sir Richard Branson is due to be onboard the Mothership as a member of the crew for a demonstration flight on Tuesday 28th July.

Under the deal, Aabar will invest US$280m and take a 32% stake in Virgin Galactic’s holding company, valuing the business at approximately $900m. Additionally, Aabar has shown to share Virgin Galactic’c vision to the future and will potentially commit a further $110m to fund a small satellite launch capability. Abu Dhabi will also gain exclusive regional rights, subject to regulatory clearances, to host Virgin Galactic tourism and scientific research space flights. Exciting plans for the future include plans to build spaceport facilities in Abu Dhabi, which demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s commitment to being an international destination of choice and to grow as a leader in tourism, advanced science, technology and higher education.”

Sir Richard Branson said: “We are delighted to partner Aabar in a strategic deal that is a first for Virgin Galactic. The initiative will leverage the solid financial backing of the Aabar group and the pioneering technology and strong global relationships of Virgin Galactic. This exciting deal is indicative of the interesting and high value investments that mark the UAE’s commercial portfolio.”

“This transaction carries multiple potential for the creation of an exceptional platform for space infrastructure such as research labs, space centre for commercial travel and much more,” said Mohamed Badawy Al-Husseiny.

The new joint venture also proposes to undertake additional development which will enable the space system to launch small satellites at unprecedented levels of cost, reliability and flexibility.

WhiteKnightTwo, VG’s new carrier aircraft is well into its test flight programme and is performing flawlessly. It is the world’s largest all carbon composite aircraft and has a unique high altitude, heavy lift capability.


Sen Tv Limited

Mohamed Badawy Al-Husseiny, CEO of Aabar with Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic





[video] V5 158 - YouTube[/video]



Concept

 

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Aabar pumps $110m more into Virgin Galactic

Ipic boosts stake in Branson's space firm to 37.8% from the current 31.8%
Zawya Dow Jones

Published: 00:00 October 19, 2011

Dubai: Abu Dhabi investment company Aabar Investments has boosted its stake in Virgin Galactic, Virgin Group's commercial space line, to 37.8 per cent from 31.8 per cent, according to the prospectus for a planned bond sale by Aabar's parent company.

Aabar, owned by Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Co (Ipic) invested an additional $110 million (Dh404 million) in Virgin Galactic in July, boosting its stake by six per cent, Ipic's preliminary bond prospectus seen by Zawya Dow Jones says.

Ipic is wholly owned by Abu Dhabi's government, for which Aabar has served as a diversified investor. Aabar and Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group in 2009 announced a strategic partnership under which Aabar would pay $280 million for a 31.8 per cent stake in Virgin Galactic's holding company.

At the time, Aabar said the acquisition valued that business at about $900 million. The acquisition was completed in 2010. In the July 2009 announcement, Aabar also said it had committed $100 million to fund small satellite launch capability, and that it planned to build a spaceport in Abu Dhabi. Aabar made significant other investments in the first half of this year.


Gulf News

 

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WhiteKnight Two






SpaceShipTwo

 

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Shares

Aabar Investments (blocking minority to ‘board of directors’) : 37.8 % stake

Chief Advisor for Spaceport Abu Dhabi

Virgin Galactic and Aabar Investments PJS appoint Steve Landeene as Chief Advisor for Spaceport Abu Dhabi

Former Spaceport America chief appointed to lead vision and planning for Virgin Galactic space flights from Abu Dhabi.

ABU DHABI – (April 17, 2012) Virgin Galactic LLC (“Virgin Galactic”), part of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, and Aabar Investments PJS (“Aabar”) today announced that they had appointed Steve Landeene to the role of Chief Advisor, Spaceport Abu Dhabi. Between 2007 and 2010, Landeene was Executive Director of Spaceport America in New Mexico and oversaw the development of Virgin Galactic’s operational hub and the world’s first purpose built commercial spaceport.

Under a deal announced in 2009 between Virgin Galactic and Aabar, the two companies agreed that Abu Dhabi would gain exclusive regional rights, subject to the receipt of regulatory clearances, to host Virgin Galactic tourism and scientific research space flights. Landeene’s appointment is an important step in bringing those plans to fruition, underscoring Abu Dhabi’s commitment to being an international destination of choice and a regional leader in tourism, advanced science, technology and higher education.

Landeene will be responsible for developing a roadmap for the proposed construction of a spaceport in Abu Dhabi. Starting from strategic and organizational business planning, and then, if the requisite regulatory approvals are obtained, moving through to spaceport construction management and finally to spaceport operations, Landeene will ensure that Spaceport Abu Dhabi meets the objectives of its investors and complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

Commenting on the appointment, Mohamed Badawy Al-Husseiny, CEO of Aabar said: “We are pleased that someone with Steve’s exceptional experience in aerospace and spaceport development has agreed to spearhead this exciting and important vision for the project. We are at the dawn of a new era in commercial space and are perfectly positioned with the world’s first spaceline, Virgin Galactic, to ensure that we are a prime beneficiary of the opportunities that will follow. This will become a regional hub for space tourism, as well as space-based science research and education. We look forward to working closely with Steve as he helps us to realize that dream.”

George Whitesides, CEO and President of Virgin Galactic added: “Steve’s appointment comes at a particularly exciting time for Virgin Galactic as we move into the final stages of test flights prior to commercial operations at Spaceport America. It also reinforces the strategic partnership we enjoy with Aabar. From the start, both companies have shared a common vision for the future of commercial space and for the opportunity it presents to Abu Dhabi. Virgin Galactic has a beautiful home at Spaceport America in New Mexico, due in no small part to Steve’s leadership during a crucial phase in its development. We are delighted that Steve is now bringing that learning and experience to bear on Spaceport Abu Dhabi and look forward to the day when Virgin Galactic spaceships are a regular sight in the skies above this vibrant and forward-looking city.” One of the first tasks for this initiative will be to engage on regulatory requirements and then consider suitable potential spaceport sites in Abu Dhabi.

Underscoring the visionary nature of this appointment and reinforcing its commitment to Abu Dhabi, Virgin Galactic also announced a partnership with Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, to establish an intern program encouraging the next generation of leaders. Commenting on the partnership, Whitesides said: “We share a commitment to higher education with the city of Abu Dhabi. As Virgin Galactic extends its global footprint, we intend to support the communities in which we are involved, and are eager for this intern program to become fully established. We are working with the university on an application process for this unique opportunity.” This summer, the program’s first student will work in London at Virgin Galactic’s headquarters with its global brand team.


Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic Spaceport

Concept

 

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SpaceShipTwo with Science Research Payload

Virgin Galactic acquires full ownership of The Spaceship Company

October 5, 2012

Mojave, CA. – Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline, today announced that it has taken 100% ownership of its sister company, The Spaceship Company (TSC), by acquiring the 30% stake held by Scaled Composites (Scaled) since TSC’s formation under a joint venture with Virgin Galactic.

This acquisition, details of which are not being disclosed, marks the successful completion of a long-term strategy and signifies the end of the first phase of TSC’s development. During this development phase, TSC completed the build out of manufacturing and assembly facilities in Mojave, CA, established a specialized workforce and transitioned necessary assets from Scaled in order to begin building Virgin Galactic’s commercial fleet of WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft and SpaceShipTwo (SS2) manned sub-orbital spacecraft. These vehicles will be utilized for Virgin Galactic’s planned spaceline operations which will be based at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico.

The completion of the acquisition comes as Virgin Galactic and Scaled begin to plan the handover of the SS2 development program to Virgin Galactic, with Scaled remaining fully committed to the final portion of the WK2 and SS2 test flight programs prior to Virgin Galactic commencing commercial operations.


The Spaceship Company

[video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTdBu65jJYk[/video]

 

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SpaceShipTwo Carbon Composite Construction

Virgin Galactic assumes ownership of The Spaceship Company, acquires Scaled Composites’ stake in sister company

October 8, 2012

By Courtney Howard
Executive Editor

MOJAVE, Calif., 8 Oct. 2012. Virgin Galactic, on track to become the world’s first commercial spaceline, has assumed full ownership of The Spaceship Company (TSC), its sister company. Virgin Galactic acquired the 30 percent stake held by Scaled Composites (Scaled) since TSC’s formation under a joint venture with Virgin Galactic.

This acquisition marks the completion of a long-term strategy and signifies the end of the first phase of TSC’s development. TSC completed the build out of manufacturing and assembly facilities in Mojave, Calif.; established a specialized workforce; and transitioned necessary assets from Scaled to begin building Virgin Galactic’s commercial fleet of WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft and SpaceShipTwo (SS2) manned sub-orbital spacecraft—both of which will be used for Virgin Galactic’s spaceline operations based at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
Scaled will transfer the SS2 development program to Virgin Galactic, with Scaled remaining committed to the final portion of the WK2 and SS2 test flight programs prior to Virgin Galactic commencing commercial operations.

Scaled Composites engineers developed Virgin Galactic’s spaceship (SpaceShipTwo,VSS Enterprise) and carrier craft (WhiteKnightTwo, VMS Eve). The Spaceship Company, a new aerospace production company founded by Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites, is building the fleet of vehicles for Virgin Galactic.

Scaled, founded by Burt Rutan, developed SpaceShipOne, which in 2004 claimed the $10 million Ansari X Prize as the world’s first privately developed manned spacecraft.


PennWell Corporation

Scaled Composites Proteus