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Albanian Airport Named After Sheikh Zayed

  • Publish date: Tuesday، 20 April 2021
Albanian Airport Named After Sheikh Zayed

The newly opened Kukes International Airport in Albania was named after UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed.

Albanian media said that Kukes International Airport Zayed welcomed its first flight on Sunday with the country's Prime Minister Edi Rama onboard of Air Albania aircraft from the capital Tirana.

The airport was revitalised with the UAE's help after it established an aid camp there during the Kosovan conflict in the late 1990s, to assist refugees who were streaming into Albania.

Emirati businessman Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Emaar Properties, shared pictures of a display dedicated to Sheikh Zayed and the UAE in the terminal.

"Our relations with Albania go back to 1998 when Sheikh Zayed, may his soul rest in peace, sent humanitarian relief to those affected by the Kosovo war, built camps and provided educational and medical aid," Mr Alabbar wrote on Twitter.

Albanian Airport Named After Sheikh Zayed

Up to 45,000 hot meals were served every day. It was known among other militaries as the “five-star camp”.

Kukes International Airport Zayed is designed to serve as Albania's second airport, after Tirana International Airport, and boost tourism in the region.