Al-Safran Air Base

The Al-Safran Air Base (ICAO: OMLW,^[1] alternatively called Liwa^[2]) is a military air base operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force, located approximately 80 miles southwest of Abu Dhabi, near Madinat Zayed.^[3][4]

Liwa Air Base
IATA: none ICAO: OMLW
Summary
Airport type	Military
Operator	United Arab Emirates Air Force
Elevation AMSL	394 ft / 120 m
Coordinates	23°39′7″N 53°49′14″E
Map
Liwa AB Location in the United Arab Emirates
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 13/31 12,040 3,670 Paved

History

Construction of the base cost an estimated $1 billion.^[3] Construction was carried out by Alnaboodah Construction Group^[5] A Mirage 2000 squadron was moved to the base in 2007, and it was completed in approximately 2008.^[3][6] The base underwent an expansion of its airport apron in 2017, the same year it added six new aircraft shelters.^[7]

Description

The base has one runway, hardened aircraft shelters, and a subterranean ammunition dump.^[3] The bases houses two ground control stations.^[7] The base is defended by the Super aEgis II sentry gun.^[8]