Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, has announced the start of construction on a new $35 billion airport terminal that will become the world’s largest once completed. The new terminal, which is five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, will be able to handle up to 260 million passengers annually.
The emirate’s ruler 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 project is geared towards future generations and will ensure continuous development for the children and grandchildren of Dubai.
Once completed, Al Maktoum International Airport will become the new home of Emirates airline and feature five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates. This development will further solidify Dubai’s position as a key aviation hub. CEO of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffiths, 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.
