The government of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates), through the Sharjah airport authority, is analyzing a build, operate and transfer (BOT) model to expand the Sharjah international airport.

The expansion plan aims to increase the airport capacity from 8.5 million passenger a year to 15 million by 2017/2018 and 25 million by 2025. The plans includes, among others, the development of a new terminal and access roads and  the construction of a hotel and shopping mall near the airport.

The airport authority tasked American engineering firm Bechtel in January 2014 to carry out the expansion plan. The authority is also being advised by Ernst & Young to select the financing mode for the project.

One of the options being discussed by the consultants and the contracting authority is developing the project through a BOT model, in which the preferred bidder would be responsible for the design, build, finance and operate the terminal under a concession contract.

Sharjah international airport is  located 13 km east south east of Sharjah. It is spread over an area of 3.6 million m². In 2014 the airport developed a new runway with capacity to handle an Airbus 380, the total project investment was Dh500 million (US$136.1 million).