In Dubai, the construction of a new $35 billion airport terminal is underway, with plans to become the world’s largest airport once completed. This new terminal will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport and will have a capacity for up to 260 million passengers annually. The emirate’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, envisions creating an entire city around the airport in Dubai South, with housing for a million people and opportunities for leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors.
The plan is to eventually transfer all operations from Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International Airport. Once completed, this new airport will become the new home of Emirates airline, featuring five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates. This development will further solidify Dubai’s position as a key aviation hub. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, sees this as a bold step towards expanding Dubai’s aviation infrastructure.
Dubai International Airport has been the world’s busiest airport for international travel for the past ten years, with nearly 87 million passengers using the facility in the last year alone. Despite the strain on capacity, Dubai continues to see growth in international visitors, reaching a record high of 17.15 million in 2023. The construction of Al Maktoum International Airport marks a significant investment in the future of aviation in Dubai and beyond.