The pipeline will help meet traffic demand at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, which is forecast to reach a total of 125 million passengers and more than five million tonnes of air freight in 2020s.

The aviation business in the UAE has sustained a compounded annual growth rate of about 11 per cent over the last 15 years. Fuel sales volume have grown from about 460 million US gallons in 2001 and to about 2.2 billion US gallons in 2015, reflecting a 480 per cent growth over this period.

ENOC, through its subsidiary Horizon Terminals, has announced the launch of Project Falcon, a 58km long jet fuel pipeline that links its storage terminal in Jebel Ali with Dubai International Airport. The pipeline also includes provisions for future needs of Al Maktoum International Airport.

The project was announced at a news conference held on the second day of Dubai Airshow 2015, in the presence of Enoc group CEO Saif Al Falasi, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths, Enoc Marketing managing director Zaid Alqufaidi and Horizon Terminals managing director Yusr Al Junaidy.

The project has state-of-the-art oil terminal facilities with a storage capacity of 140,000 cubic metres. The facility also has a 850 cubic metres per hour pumping capacity which will ensure adequate jet fuel supply to the Dubai International Airport.

Al Falasi said: “The new jet fuel pipeline is part of our long-term investment strategy that is aligned with the broader vision of the Dubai Government to create a sustainable city that positions Dubai as a global hub and destination for travel, tourism, commerce, aviation, transport, construction and trade.”

The pumping capacity of the pipeline is 55 per cent of the ultimate fuel demand of Dubai International Airport. The pipeline has the capabilities to pump to fuel farms at both airports. In the near future when pipeline extends to Al Maktoum International Airport, it will be able to meet 60 per cent of Dubai Airports’ combined demand in 2050.

The pipeline can also cater to other suppliers’ fuel requirements at the airport.

“Dubai International Airport’s new position as the busiest airport in the world and preparations for World Expo 2020 has enabled the emirate to launch several initiatives to transform Dubai’s economic landscape. The new pipeline eliminates the constraints of road-trucking of jet fuel that would have serious limitations for meeting the airport demand in future years,” Al Falasi added.