Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, announced that the Al Maktoum International Airport will undergo a massive expansion to become the world’s largest airport. The ambitious project is part of Dubai South, a planned city expected to accommodate 1 million people.
The airport is designed to have five runways and 400 gates with a capacity of 260 million passengers. This upgrade is expected to cost $35 billion over the next 10 years and will serve as a central hub for global travel, trade, and urban development.
Currently, Dubai International Airport is the busiest in the world, with 87 million passengers in 2023. However, all operations will be moved to the Al Maktoum facility once it is completed. The airport will have five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates, surrounded by a new city with housing for 1 million people.
Opened in 2010, the Al Maktoum International Airport currently has one terminal and two runways. The airport is a key element of Dubai South, a strategy to create a thriving economic zone with jobs and residences for a million people across 55 square miles.
The expansion of the Al Maktoum International Airport comes as travel to Dubai returns to pre-pandemic levels, with 17.15 million international visitors in 2023. This growth in tourism and trade underlines the importance of investing in infrastructure to support future development and prosperity in Dubai.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stated that this ambitious project aligns with Dubai’s vision for sustainable development and its commitment to creating an inclusive society for future generations.
The expansion of the airport will also bring significant economic benefits to Dubai by attracting more tourists and businesses while creating new job opportunities.
Overall, this massive expansion of the Al Maktoum International Airport highlights how Dubai continues to invest heavily in infrastructure projects that aim towards its long-term goals of becoming a global hub for tourism and trade while promoting sustainable development.
