Dubai's leadership has greenlit a massive 128 billion dirham ($35 billion) expansion project for Al Maktoum International Airport, set to become the world's largest airport. The new terminal will make the airport five times larger than Dubai International Airport (DXB) and is designed to handle a staggering 260 million passengers annually.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and UAE Prime Minister, announced that this ambitious project would elevate Al Maktoum International to the world's highest capacity airport. For context, Dubai International Airport, the world’s second-busiest airport, handled 86.9 million passengers in 2023.
The expansion will see all operations from DXB transferred to the new terminal, which will feature 400 aircraft gates and five parallel runways. The project will also introduce cutting-edge aviation technologies, setting new standards for the industry.
Located in Dubai South, the airport will anchor a new city expected to house a million people and attract the world’s leading logistics and air transport companies. Sheikh Maktoum emphasized that this development would secure Dubai's position as a global hub for aviation, logistics, and urban innovation, ensuring continuous growth for future generations.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO of Emirates Airline, confirmed that the new airport would serve as the home for Emirates, FlyDubai, and other airline partners, contributing significantly to Dubai's D33 economic agenda, which aims to double the city's economy by 2033. The airport, also known as Dubai World Central (DWC), will span 27 square miles and accommodate 12 million tons of cargo annually.
The first phase of the project is expected to be completed within 10 years, with the capacity to handle 150 million passengers annually.
