Chinese Firm Exits Rabat Airport Expansion, Causing Major Delays

A blow for the project to build a new terminal at Rabat-Salé airport. The Chinese company specialized in the construction and expansion of airports, "SINOHYDRO", has withdrawn from the project due to a conflict with the consortium of companies that won the tender, reports Rue20. As a result, the work will experience further delays. Launched in 2018 by King Mohammed VI, the project was scheduled to be completed in July 2022. This withdrawal comes at a time when Morocco is making efforts to carry out major transport and sports infrastructure projects in preparation for the organization of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2025) and the 2030 World Cup.

Financed by special credits from the National Airports Office (596 million dirhams), the African Development Bank (825 million dirhams), and the French Development Agency (220 million dirhams), this project is in perfect harmony with the objectives of the "Rabat, City of Light, Cultural Capital of Morocco" program. It aims to strengthen the tourist destination of the capital, will increase the annual capacity of the airport to 4 million passengers instead of the current 1.5 million. It incorporates innovative technologies in its design to regulate the temperature inside the spaces, enhance natural lighting, and save water.

The new terminal will also include a public hall with a space for the exhibition of aircraft models, a hall for passenger and baggage check-in procedures, a space for access controls, a hall for baggage delivery, a space dedicated to passport control on arrival, and two red and green corridors for customs clearance procedures on arrival. Not to mention the six telescopic boarding bridges for boarding and disembarking aircraft, a commercial space built according to the new "walk through" design, as well as spaces for catering and leisure services.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjsF7UCInuU