Designs for a new AED$128 billion passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, the next growth phase at Dubai World Central (DWC), have been approved by the ruler of Dubai, giving a green light for work to commence on the monumental project.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, approved the designs on Sunday (28 April 2024), saying construction on the project — which when fully operational will be the world’s largest capacity airport, handling up to 260 million passengers annually — can now begin.
In 2023, the number of passengers passing through Dubai International Airport (DXB) was 86.9 million. The facility achieved its highest passenger volume pre-pandemic in 2018 when there were 89.1 million passenger movements.
“It will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, and all operations at Dubai International Airport will be transferred to it in the coming years.”
“The airport will accommodate 400 aircraft gates and feature five parallel runways. New aviation technologies will be employed for the first time in the aviation sector,” Dubai’s Prime Minister said.
The new airport will have a quadruple independent operation, west and east processing terminals, four satellite concourses, with integrated landside transport hub for roads, metro and city air transport.
Al Maktoum Int’l Airport (Dubai World Central) is located in Dubai South, near Jebel Ali, which is over 50kms from Dubai city centre. It opened in mid-2010. Dubai International Airport is in the Al Garhoud district of Dubai, less than 5kms from the city centre.
DWC is currently operational primarily for freight. Once the new passenger terminal is complete, the footprint of the airport will extend 70 square kilometres, and also handling 12 million tonnes of cargo per annum. It is expected that the first phase of the project will be ready within 10 years, accommodating 150 million passengers annually.
Al Maktoum Int’l Airport (Dubai World Central) is located in Dubai South, near Jebel Ali, which is over 50kms from Dubai city centre. It opened in mid-2010. Dubai International Airport is in the Al Garhoud district of Dubai, less than 5kms from the city centre.
DWC is currently operational primarily for freight. Once the new passenger terminal is complete, the footprint of the airport will extend 70 square kilometres. DWC will also handle 12 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
It is expected that the first phase of the project will be ready within 10 years, accommodating 150 million passengers annually.
Both Emirates and flydubai which call Dubai International Airport home, shared their excitement for their new operational hub on social media.
