Abu Dhabi International Airport

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The airport’s new Midfield Terminal has been described as the “crown jewel” of the public infrastructure projects undertaken to diversify the emirate’s economy away from oil into areas like tourism. It’s a fitting description for this architectural gem set on a desert plateau, its illuminated interior visible from 10 miles away.

The Midfield Terminal is expected to increase the airport’s capacity to 30 million passengers a year, up from the current 20 million. The number could eventually reach 60 million or more.

In 2013, Otis won the contract to supply the state-of-the-art systems needed to move millions of people a year through the new terminal: 161 elevators, 122 escalators and 58 moving walkways. 

Stretching across more than 13 square miles, the X-shaped terminal will include 65 aircraft gates. The curved roof of the departure hall, soaring 164 ft high and largely column free, appears to float across 18 steel arches, giving the building an open, outdoor feel.