Abu Dhabi airport runs the world's largest DALI installation

This project report by Delmatic first appeared in LED professional Review (LpR) issue 115, May/June 2026, as part of the issue's DALI Focus.

Zayed International Airport Terminal A in Abu Dhabi has become one of the most advanced airport developments ever completed. Spanning 742,000 sq.m and serving as a new global gateway to the UAE capital, the terminal incorporates the world's largest DALI lighting control installation. Delmatic delivered a fully integrated open-protocol lighting management system combining DALI, LON, BACnet, IP, and connected building technologies to control, monitor, and optimize approximately 215,000 luminaires across the entire facility.

Project overview

The new Zayed International Airport Terminal A spans 742,000 sq.m, making it one of the largest airport terminals in the world and a spectacular gateway to Abu Dhabi.

At the heart of the project is the world's largest DALI lighting control installation. The Delmatic system delivers intelligent site-wide lighting management and monitoring while interfacing seamlessly with the Building Management System (BMS), Emergency UPS, Fire Alarm, and Audio Visual systems through BACnet/IP and VFC protocols.

The installation manages and monitors approximately 180,000 DALI luminaires, 35,000 DALI emergency luminaires, and more than 10,000 DALI sensors, switches, and scene-setting panels, coordinated through 3,400 single- and multi-universe DALI control modules.

Lighting scenes and illumination levels automatically adapt throughout the day according to occupancy, daylight availability, and operational requirements. An innovative application of DALI technology can be found throughout the immigration halls, where red and green LED indicators integrated within the turnstile system are automatically controlled via interfaces with the airport's immigration management platform.

The airport received an Estidama 3 Pearl Rating, making it the highest-rated airport terminal in the GCC and the largest individual building ever to achieve this certification. The project was also recognized internationally, winning first place in the Infrastructure category at the 2023 DALI Awards. Additionally, the terminal featured prominently in the blockbuster film Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning.

Open protocol solutions for one of the world's largest buildings

A Delmatic open-protocol LON, DALI, and BACnet lighting management system was deployed throughout Zayed International Airport Terminal A, one of the largest and most technologically advanced airport terminals ever constructed.

The system controls, monitors, and manages lighting across all public, operational, front-of-house, and back-of-house areas while seamlessly integrating with the central battery network to provide real-time monitoring of emergency lighting performance and battery status.

“The Midfield Terminal Building was a cutting-edge project in terms of the technologies and systems that were implemented for the first time.”
— Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports Company

The world's largest DALI installation

The lighting management system became the largest DALI installation in the world, combining DALI Buswire, Broadcast, and Plug-in technologies with a comprehensive range of DALI sensors and local control devices.

The system optimizes energy performance through daylight harvesting and occupancy-based control strategies. Lighting scenes were automatically activated according to schedules, solar events, occupancy detection, and daylight availability. The complete installation was managed and monitored through a site-wide IP network using advanced graphical software. Integration with other airport systems further enhanced operational efficiency and sustainability performance.

The system optimizes energy efficiency through sophisticated daylight-harvesting strategies which adjust lighting levels across the day according to real-time daylight availability and occupancy. (Image: Delmatic)

As one of the most ambitious lighting control projects ever delivered, the installation demonstrated how DALI technology can scale far beyond conventional building applications. The project validated the capability of open protocols to support complex, mission-critical infrastructure while maintaining flexibility, reliability, and long-term interoperability.

Connected systems

Delmatic's connected systems architecture enabled advanced energy optimization by sharing occupancy and environmental data with other building services.

Lighting scenes automatically adapt throughout the day according to occupancy, daylight availability, and operational requirements: daytime scenes maximize energy efficiency. (Image: Delmatic)

Dusk, evening and night scenes create aesthetic lighting effects to enhance passenger experience and orientation. (Image: Delmatic)

By creating a real-time digital representation of building occupancy and daylight conditions, the system allowed lighting, HVAC, and other energy-consuming services to respond dynamically to actual usage patterns. This integrated approach improved operational efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and enhanced occupant comfort throughout the terminal.

Almost every modern building utilizes occupancy sensors for lighting control. Delmatic extended the value of these sensors by sharing occupancy information with connected building systems, ensuring that heating, cooling, and other services operated only where and when required.

Smart sensors relate lighting levels to occupancy and share occupancy information with connected building systems, ensuring that heating, cooling, and other services operate only where and when required. (Image: Delmatic)

This approach transformed lighting controls into a valuable source of operational intelligence, helping to create a more responsive and efficient building environment.

Emergency lighting and central battery monitoring

Delmatic systems seamlessly integrated with central battery networks distributed throughout the airport to monitor battery performance and operational status. Real-time battery data are combined with the monitored status of every emergency luminaire and driver to create a comprehensive emergency lighting management platform.

With approximately 180,000 luminaires installed across the airport, including around 35,000 emergency luminaires connected to the central battery system, Delmatic provided continuous monitoring of lighting performance and operational status throughout the facility. Detailed information was accessible through Delmatic's graphical software platform, while key performance indicators were displayed on centralized monitoring screens.

The system also supported mixed emergency lighting environments, allowing central battery systems and self-contained emergency luminaires to be tested, monitored, and managed through a single unified platform.

Continuous monitoring allowed facility managers to identify faults instantly, optimize maintenance activities, and support compliance with safety requirements across the entire airport complex.

Minimizing environmental impact

The terminal was designed to minimize its environmental impact. Significant reductions in energy consumption were achieved through a climate-responsive façade, intelligent building systems, and advanced energy monitoring technologies that continuously analyzed performance and identified optimization opportunities.

The project team worked closely with Masdar, whose zero-carbon city and Masdar Institute – also equipped with Delmatic DALI systems – are located adjacent to the airport.

By combining advanced architectural design with intelligent lighting controls, the project established a benchmark for sustainable airport development in the Middle East.

Summary

Zayed International Airport Terminal A demonstrates the scalability and versatility of DALI technology at the highest level. As the world's largest DALI installation, the project integrates approximately 180,000 luminaires, 35,000 emergency luminaires, 10,000 control devices, and 3,400 DALI control modules into a single intelligent lighting management platform.

Beyond lighting control, the system seamlessly connects with building management, emergency power, fire safety, HVAC, AV, and operational systems, showcasing how DALI can serve as the foundation for fully integrated smart infrastructure. The project stands as a benchmark for large-scale transportation hubs worldwide and highlights the role of open standards in delivering operational efficiency, sustainability, flexibility, and long-term future readiness.

Project information

• Location: Abu Dhabi
• Size: 742,000 sq.m
• Architect: KPF
• Consultant: Arup
• Contractor: Anel

Delmatic's scope of works: Design & Development, DALI, LON, BACnet, IP, Emergency Monitoring and Testing, UPS Integration, BMS Integration, HVAC Integration, AV Integration, Load Shedding Integration, Fire Alarm Integration, Security System Integration, Scene Setting, Project Management, Connected Systems, Lifetime Support.

Source: Delmatic, “Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi – The World's Largest DALI Installation”, LED professional Review (LpR) 115, May/June 2026, DALI Focus. All images courtesy of Delmatic.