Construction of the new €2.2 billion ($3.2bn) Ajman International Airport will get underway in 2008 with the creation 28,000 job opportunities over the coming years, many of which will be Middle East construction jobs.

The work is being carried out by a Spanish consortium in a Build Operate and Transfer contract and it will be a fourth international airport for the United Arab Emirates.

Ajman International Airport will be part of an international "PlaneStation" that will include 30 airports around the world, bringing tourists and business travelers to the booming Middle East. The PlaneStation concept sees the Middle East as a central link in the world's first network of regional airports in a plan to open up new routes, avoid flight delays and at the same time generate new business and jobs.

To be built on an area of six million square metres, the new airport will house the passenger terminal, arrival and departure lounges, a school for staff training, commercial region including free zone, office spaces and housing units.

The airport will be constructed in six stages and take its place as one of 11 airports to be built in the Middle East. Other airports either planned or already under construction include two in both Egypt and Iran, as well as airports in Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Morocco.

An overall master plan for Ajman Airport calls for the it to be linked by monorail to the seafront at the town of Al Zoura, which would give rise to a resort area featuring around 30 hotels, shopping centres and water front villas.