Dubai is set to become the global hub for aviation with the construction of Al Maktoum International Airport, which will have a capacity for 260 million passengers upon completion. The emirate’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has announced the start of construction on a new $35 billion airport terminal that will be the largest in the world once finished.
The new terminal will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport and will be able to handle up to 260 million passengers annually. This project is geared towards future generations, ensuring continuous development for the children and grandchildren of Dubai. Once completed, Al Maktoum International Airport will become the new home of Emirates airline, featuring five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates.
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.
Sheikh Mohammed 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. This new project is set to become the world’s airport, port, urban hub, and global center. CEO of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffiths, sees this as a bold step towards expanding Dubai’s aviation infrastructure.