Tall & Urban News

Informed by the undulating sand dunes of the desert and rich geometric patterns of Islamic heritage, Zayed International Airport’s new Terminal A is a civic landmark for the emirate and a gateway for the world, connecting East and West on a global scale. Formally Abu Dhabi International Airport, it is now called Zayed International Airport, Terminal A - following directions of the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the end of 2023.

The airport’s design was conceived and executed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) to deliver an unrivaled travel experience. As one of the world’s largest airport terminals, it will process up to 45 million passengers per year—more than doubling the airport’s current capacity.
Recently featured in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, it is already established as a point of local pride and a worldwide landmark.

James von Klemperer, President, Kohn Pedersen Fox stated, “We are delighted to see the opening of Terminal A, our largest and most complex airport to date. It’s particularly exciting because the building represents so much of the mission of our practice. The changing scales and variety of spaces within the terminal are themes we believe are key to the design of airports, allowing them to become civic landmarks and representatives of the cities they serve. Terminal A is a showcase for Abu Dhabi, and its attention to detail, functionality, and to an inclusive and inspiring design that elevates the experience of traveling for all.”

As a design, it creates an inspirational gateway for travel. The terminal is raised above the road level, as if on its own plateau, with an illuminated interior providing a striking presence on the horizon. The building is instantly recognizable to drivers on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway, which links the UAE’s two largest cities. 

_{Departure Hall © Victor Romero}

The scale of the Departure Hall—a 50-meter-high, largely column-free space—endows the building with an open, outdoor quality, further enhanced by atmospheric lighting. The supporting arches are visually separated from the roof, making the ceiling feel almost weightless. Two four-story buildings are contained under the central roof and house a 138-room hotel and offices.

A key challenge in the envelope design was to provide ample daylight whilst protecting passengers against glare and overheating. This balance was achieved by purposefully undulating the form of the roof and draping it over the façade. In doing so, the amount of glazing along the piers was cut in half, while inclining the façade further reduces the impact of the desert sun. High-performance glass, with fritting in a graduated pattern, was used where glazing was required to control glare.

_{Sana Al Nour (left) and Feature Staircase (right) © Victor Romero}

To balance the terminal’s monumental scale, KPF created a series of landmarks, including the Sana Al Nour, the Feature Staircase, and the sculptural Shell, to orient passengers and provide moments of interest along their journey.

The completion builds on KPF’s aviation experience and is a significant addition to their design portfolio, which includes, most recently, Nanning International Airport Terminal 2 and Changi Airport Terminal 5 (with Heatherwick Studio).

Learn more about this project at KPF.